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Here, you freshman, . . . step up and 
take your seat beside your classu de.’ ' 

Page 5 




WINNING HIS 

n story of f ro$binan Vear in College 


BY 

EVERETT T. TOMLINSON 

\ > 

Author of 

" The Ward Hill Series,” ” The Blue and Buff Series,” 
“The Winner,” “Three Colonial Boys,” 

“ In the Hands of the Red Coats,” ” Camping on 
the St. Lawrence,” etc. 


> > > 


PHILADELPHIA 

©rttntb Si IRowlanO iprees 

NINETEEN-FOUR 



LIBRARY of CONGRESSj 

Two Copies Received 


NOV 2 iaU4 





Copyright 1904 by the 
American Baptist Publication Society 

Published October, 1904 



^rom tbe Societig’f oven preos 


PREFACE 


In this book I have endeavored to relate the story of 
a boy’s early experiences in college life — a boy who 
was neither unnaturally good nor preternaturally bad, 
wholesome, earnest, impulsive, making just such mis- 
takes as a normal boy would make, and yet earnest, 
sincere, and healthy. We all have known just such 
boys and are grateful that they are neither uncommon 
nor unknown. 

Perhaps it may add a little to the interest of this tale 
if it is stated that many of the events described in it 
actually occurred. I have not tagged a “moral” 
upon it, for if the story itself shall not bear its own 
moral, then the addition will not add to it. 

Everett T. Tomlinson. 

Elizabeth, New Jersey. 




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ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

‘ It may he he is the captain of the football team ’ ” . 20 ' 

‘ Here, you freshman, step up and take your seat beside 
your classmate. ’ ’ ’ Frontispiece 52 ^ 

‘ Did you ever see anything in your life like that ? ’ ” . 85 

For an hour Mr. Phelps remained in the room listen- 
ing to the boys ” 103 - 

* Ah, good evening, Mr. Phelps . . . tvill you be 
seated 136 

Will could see it all and distinctly hear every word that 
was spoken^' 11^8 

‘ Ball on Alden's twenty-five yard line. Great run by 
Thomas' 177 

‘ Look out ! Look out ! ’ called Will sharply ”... 227 

‘ But didn't I pass the examination, professor " . 24.1 

‘ Let's go in and take a hand ! Yell, Phelps ' " . . 269 

^ Good morning,' said Will cheerfully. ‘ We're here 
after these canes.' " ^91 

Will darted forward touching the tape first of all" . . 304 

V 








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CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. The Opening Term 9 

II. Peter John’s Arrival 19 

III. New Friends and New Experiences 29 

IV. A Cloud of Witnesses 39 

V. Unsought Attentions 49 

VI. A Race in the Darkness 59 

VII. Splinter’s Questions 68 

VIII. The Parade 78 

IX. The Walk with Mott 88 

X. A Visitor 98 

XI. The Perpetual Problem 107 

XII. The Meet 116 

XIII. Wagner’s Advice 125 

XIV. The Advice Followed 135 

XV. The Professor of Greek 144 

XVI. A Frksh Incentive 154 

vii 


vin 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

XVII. A Reversed Decision 163 

XVIII. Telegrams 172 

} 

XIX. Peter John’s Downfall 182 

XX. An Alarming Report 191 

XXI. A Rare Interview 200 

XXII. A Crisis 210 

XXIli. A Mishap with Skees 220 

XXIV. A Memorable Interview 229 

XXV. The Examination 239 

XXVI. A Fresh Excitement 249 

XXVII. The Rush to Coventry Center 258 

XXVIII. The Mystery of the Canes 267 

XXIX. On the Trail 276 

XXX. St. Patrick’s Day . 286 

XXXI. Conclusion . 296 


WINNING HIS “W” 


CHAPTER I 

THE OPENING TERM 

I ’VE got a letter from Peter John.” 

“What’s the trouble with him? He ought to 
have been here yesterday or the day before. ’ ’ 

“I’m afraid Peter John never ’ll be on time. He 
doesn’t seem to have taken that in his course. He’d 
never pass an ‘ exam ’ in punctuality.” 

“ What does he want? ” 

“ The poor chap begs us to meet him at the station.” 
“What train ? ” 

“ The two-seventeen. ” 

“Then we’ve no time to waste. Is he afraid he’ll 
be lost ? ’ ’ 

“ He’s afraid, all right.” 

“What’s he afraid of ? ” 

“Everything and everybody, I guess. Poor chap.” 
Will Phelps laughed good-naturedly as he spoke, and 
it was evident that his sympathy for “Peter John” 
was genuine. His friend and room-mate, Foster Ben- 
nett, was as sympathetic as he, though his manner was 
more quiet and his words were fewer ; their fears for 

9 


10 


WINNING HIS 

their friend were evidently based upon their own per- 
sonal knowledge. 

For four years the three young men had been class- 
mates in the Sterling High School, and in the preceding 
June had graduated from its course of study, and all 
three had decided to enter Winthrop College. The en- 
trance examinations had been successfully passed, and 
at the time when this story opens all had been duly reg- 
istered as students in the incoming class of the college. 

Foster Bennett and Will Phelps were to be room- 
mates, and for several days previous to the September 
day on which the conversation already recorded had 
taken place they had been in the little college town, ar- 
ranging their various belongings in the room in Perry 
Hall, one of the best of all the dormitory buildings. 
The first assembling of the college students was to 
occur on the morrow, and then the real life upon which 
they were about to enter was to begin. 

The two boys had come to Winthrop together, the 
parents of both having decided that it was better to 
throw the young students at once upon their own re- 
sources rather than to accompany them, reserving their 
visits for a later time when the first novelty of the new 
life would be gone. 

And on this September day the novelty certainly was 
the most prominent element in the thoughts of both boys. 
The task of arranging their various belongings in their 
new rooms had kept both so busy that thoughts of the 
homes they had left were of necessity somewhat rare, 
and the vision of the family life in which they had been 


THE OPENING TERM 


11 


SO vital a part had not as yet come to take the place in 
their minds which it soon would occupy. 

At the hotel where they had been staying there were 
many other boys who were in a predicament not unlike 
their own, but the very fact that all were alike new 
to the life and its surroundings had made every one 
somewhat diffident and the warm friendships and cor- 
dial relations that soon were to be formed were as yet 
not begun. 

Will Phelps and Foster Bennett, however, had been 
so completely taken up with their own immediate tasks 
that they had little thought for other things. At the 
time when this story opens their study room was ready 
for callers, as Will expressed it, and the adjoining sleep- 
ing rooms were in a fair way for occupancy. Indeed, 
the boys planned that very night to sleep in the dormi- 
tory, and the experience was looked forward to as one 
which they both would enjoy. 

Will Phelps, a sturdy young fellow of eighteen, of 
medium height, with strong body and a bright, keen 
expression in his dark eyes, had been the most popular 
of all the boys in the high school from which he had 
recently graduated. Not over-fond of study, he had 
somewhat neglected his tasks until his final year, and 
though he had then begun to work more seriously, his 
late effort had not entirely atoned for the neglect of the 
preceding years. An only son and not rigidly trained 
in his home, he had not formed the habits of study 
which his more serious-minded room-mate, Foster Ben- 
nett, possessed. But almost every one who met the 


12 WINjNING his 

young student was drawn to him by the fascination of 
his winning ways, and realized at once the latent possi- 
bilities for good or ill that were his. His success would 
depend much upon his surroundings, and though Will 
was sublimely confident in his ability to meet and mas- 
ter whatever opposed him, it nevertheless had been a 
source of deep satisfaction to his father and mother that 
he was to room with his classmate, Foster Bennett, 
for Foster was of a much more sedate disposition than 
his friend. Taller than Will by three inches, as fond 
as he of certain athletic sports, still Foster was one 
whom enthusiasm never carried away nor impulse con- 
trolled. When people spoke of him they often used 
the word “steady” to describe him. Not so^ quick nor 
so brilliant as Will, he was not able to arouse the re- 
sponse which his room-mate seldom failed to elicit, nor 
was his promise in certain ways so great. Will might 
do brilliant things, but of Foster it was said that ‘ one 
always knew where to find him.’ Naturally, the two 
boys in a measure complemented each other, and their 
friendship was strong and lasting. 

Peter John Schenck — no one ever thought of refer- 
ring to him by another term than “ Peter John ’’—the 
third member of the high -school class to which refer- 
ence has already been made, was a boy who every morn- 
ing had driven into the little city of Sterling from his 
country home, and in his general appearance was de- 
cidedly unlike either of his classmates. The influences 
of his home had been of a diflerent character from those 
which had surrounded his two friends. Not that the 


THE OPENING TERM 


13 


love for him had been less, but certain elements of re- 
finement had been lacking and his familiarity with the 
ways of the world was much less. Besides, his father 
had been in humbler circumstances, and Peter John 
was to room in college in Leland Hall, one of the old- 
est of the dormitories, where the room rent was much 
less than in Perry Hall and more in accord with Peter 
John’s pocket. In school he had been made the butt 
of many a joke, but his fund of good nature had never 
rebelled and his persistence was never broken. Tall, 
ungainly, his trousers seemed to be in a perpetual effort 
to withdraw as far as possible from his boots, while his 
hands and wrists apparently were continually striving to 
evade the extremities of his coat sleeves. His face was 
freckled, not the ordinary freckles produced by the heat 
of the sun, but huge spotches that in color almost 
matched his auburn-tinted hair — at least his sister was 
prone to declare that the color of his hair was ‘‘au- 
burn,” though his less reverent schoolmates were ac- 
customed to refer to him as a “ brick-top.” 

But Peter John was undeterred by the guying of his 
mates, and when he had first declared his intention to go 
to college his words had been received as a joke. But it 
was soon discovered that in whatever light they might 
be received by others, to Peter John himself they were 
the expression of a fixed purpose ; and so it came to 
pass that he too had passed the entrance examinations 
and was duly enrolled as a member of the freshman 
class in Winthrop College. 

When his determination had been accepted by his 


14 


WINNING HIS 


)> 

mates, some of them had made use of their opportunities 
to enlarge upon the perils that lay before him — perils 
for the most part from the terrible sophomores who 
were supposed to be going about seeking their prey with 
all the fierceness of a roaring lion. Peter John had 
listened to the marvelous tales that were poured into 
his ears, but so far as his expression of face was con- 
cerned, apparently they had been without effect. Never- 
theless, deep in his heart Peter John had stored them 
all and his fear of the class above him had increased 
until at last just before he departed from home he had 
written to his friend Will Phelps informing him of his 
fears and begging that he and Foster would meet him 
at the station and protect him from the fierce onslaughts, 
which, he confessed, he expected would await him upon 
his arrival. This letter Will Phelps had found at the 
little post office when he made inquiries for his mail, 
and upon his return to his room it had provided the 
basis for the conversation already recorded. 

“We’d better go right down to the station, then. 
Will,” Foster had said. 

“ All right. Peter John will be in mortal terror if 
he shouldn’t find us there. He probably believes the 
sophs will have a brass band and knives and guns and 
will be drawn up on the platform ready to grab him 
just the minute he steps off the car.” 

“Not quite so bad as that, ’ ’ laughed Foster. “ But 
we’ll have to help the poor chap out,” 

‘ ‘ Sure. Come on , then , ’ ’ called Will as he seized his 
cap and started toward the hallway. 


THE OPENING TERM 


15 


** Hold on a minute. Wait till I lock the door.” 

“ ‘ Lock the door? ’ Not much ! You mustn’t do 
that.” 

‘‘Why not?” 

“ It isn’t polite. ” 

“ What are you talking about ? ” demanded Foster. 

“ Just what I’m telling you. Freshmen mustn’t lock 
their doors, that’s not the thing. The janitor told me 
not to, because the sophs will take it as a challenge to 
break it in. He said the college had to put sixty new 
locks this summer on the doors here in Perry. ’ ’ 

“Looks as if something had happened for a fact,” 
said Foster slowly, as he glanced at some huge cracks 
that were plainly visible in the panels. “ Sure ’t’ll be 
safe ? ” 

“It’ll be all right. The janitor says so. Come on ! 
Come on, or we’ll be too late ! ” 

The two boys ran swiftly down the stairway (their 
room was on the third floor of the dormitory) and soon 
were on the street which was directly in front of the 
building. As they walked rapidly in the direction of 
the station, which was a half-mile or more distant from 
the college buildings, the sight which greeted their eyes 
was one that stirred the very depths of their hearts. 
The very buildings themselves were impressive, some 
old and antiquated, dating back a century or more and 
venerable with age, and others new and beautiful, the 
recent gifts of some loyal alumni. From the huge 
dock in the tower of the chapel rang out the chimes 
which announced that the hour of two was come and 


16 


WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

gone. The beautifully kept grounds, the stately build- 
ings, the very leaves on the huge elms that grew about 
the grounds were all impressive at the time to the boys 
to whom the entire picture was new. 

In the wide street that led directly through the midst 
of the college buildings, were passing young men of 
their own age, some of whom would suddenly stop and 
grasp with fervor the hands of some students just re- 
turned from the long summer vacation. From the 
windows of the dormitories could be seen the faces of 
students who were leaning far out and shouting their 
words of greeting to friends on the street below. The 
September sun was warm and mellow, and as it found 
its way through the thick foliage it also cast fantastic 
shadows upon the grass that seemed to dance and leap 
in the very contagion of the young life that abounded 
on every side. The very air was almost electric and 
the high hills in the distance that shut in the valley and 
provided a framework for the handiwork of nature, lent 
an additional charm to which Will Phelps was uncon- 
sciously responding. 

‘‘I tell you, Foster, this is great! I’m glad I’m 
here ! ” he exclaimed. 

‘*Are you?” replied Foster in his more subdued 
manner. Well, I’m glad too.” 

The scene upon the platform of the station was as 
animated and inspiring as that about the college 
grounds. Groups of students 'were here awaiting the 
coming of friends, and yet their impatience was hidden 
by the enthusiasm of the moment. One group, con- 


THE OPENING TERM 


17 


sisting of twenty or more young men, particularly inter- . 
ested Will, for their noise and exuberance seemed to know 
no bounds. At last a young man, evidently a student 
though slightly older than the most in the group, ap- 
proached them and said : “ Here, you sophs ! You’re 
making too much noise. Children should be seen, not 
heard.” 

“All right, pop,” responded one; and for a time 
the noise decreased. But it was not long before it 
broke forth afresh and became even more violent than 
before. Both Will and Foster were curiously watching 
the group ; they almost instinctively looked upon them 
as natural enemies and yet were compelled to laugh at 
their antics. 

“ Here you, cabby,” suddenly called out one of the 
sophomores advancing from the midst of his classmates 
and approaching one of the cabs, a line of which were 
drawn up near the platform. 

“Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Here you are! Here you 
are ! This way ! ” responded a half-dozen of the cab- 
men, each shaking his whip and gesticulating fiercely. 

“ Be still ! ” replied the young man solemnly to the 
noisy men. “ Can’t you see I’m engaged with John ? 
Now, John, tell me honestly, are you free ? ” 

“ Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Take you anywhere ye say,” 
responded the cabman glibly. 

“ You’re sure you’re at liberty ? ” 

“Yes, sir. Yes, sir.” 

“ All right, then. I’m glad to hear it. I’ve a 
great respect for liberty. Tliat’s all I wanted to know ; 
c 


18 


WINNING HIS ^^W’^ 

thank you, ” he added, politely bowing ; then turning to 
his classmates he said : “I say, fellows, make it three 
for liberty ! ^ ’ 

The cheers were given with a will, and then the 
leader added solemnly, “Let’s make it three for the 
class of -4, the best class that ever entered old Win- 
throp ! Now then ! ” 

These cheers also were loudly given, but they ceased 
abruptly when it was seen that the train, for whose com- 
ing they had been waiting, was now approaching. 


CHAPTER II 


PETER John’s arrival 

B efore the rumbling train halted at the station, 
there was a rush of students toward it, all eager 
to welcome the incoming crowd, and every one ap- 
parently being desirous of being the first to greet his 
friends. Upon the platforms of the cars also crowds of 
students were to be seen, waving their hats in the air or 
standing with their traveling bags in their hands, all as 
eager as the boys at the station to be foremost in the 
reunion scene. 

Will Phelps and his room-mate stood a little back 
from the assembly and watched the proceedings with an 
interest which neither could conceal. It was all so 
stimulating, this animation and bustle and manifest 
eagerness in renewing the college life, and to feel that 
they too were to have a share in the possessions of these 
young men, scarcely one of whom was known to them 
personally, was in itself sufficient to quicken their 
pulses and arouse all the dormant forces of their nature. 
The train was a long one and yet from every car came 
pouring forth the stream of students and the excitement 
continued for several minutes. 

Suddenly a shout went up from the crowd and there 
was a rush of students toward the rear car. ** There’s 


19 


20 


WINNING HIS 

Baker ! Good old Sam ! Hurrah for the captain ! ’ ’ 
were among the cries that could be heard as the students 
surged toward the platform, from which a sturdy young 
man could be seen descending, apj^arently unmindful of 
the interest his coming had aroused and striving to be 
indifferent to the cheers that greeted his arrival. 

Will Phelps and Foster Bennett almost unconsciously 
moved with the throng though they were not fully 
aware of the cause of the sudden interest of the students. 
“ It may be that he’s the captain of the football team,” 
said Will in a low voice to his companion. “ At any 
rate the captain’s name is Baker and probably this is 
the man.” 

Foster nodded his head but made no other reply as 
he stood watching the young man as he stepped down 
from the platform. There could be no question as to 
who he was, for the conquering hero was writ large 
upon his powerful frame and the universal deference of 
the student body could be accounted for only by the 
fact that a leader in Winthrop had arrived. 

“Look there, Will, ” said Foster suddenly. ‘ ‘ There’s 
Peter John.” 

“Where?” 

“ Right behind Baker. Just coming out of the door. 
See him ? ’ ’ 

“ Yes,” responded Will as he obtained a glimpse of 
his classmate just as he was emerging from the door- 
way. Travel -stained, his hat pushed back on his head, 
his eyes wildly staring about at the crowd,, a huge 
carpet-bag in his hand, his appearance certainly would 



“ ‘ It may be that he!s the 

captain of the football team.’ ” 

Page 20. 




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PETER John’s arrival 


21 


have attracted the attention of the spectators had it 
not been that their interest was apparently centered in 
the mighty captain of the football team and they had 
no thought for any one else. 

Just as Baker stepped down, Peter John emerged 
from the car directly behind the captain, and a cheer 
louder than any that before had been given rose from 
the assembly. 

Poor Peter John ! Nervous and excited, conscious 
only of himself and his strange surroundings, the 
startled freshman had no other thought than that the 
cheers were meant for him and doubtless were intended 
as a war cry from those enemies of whom he had heard 
such marvelous tales — the sophomores. Wild-eyed, for 
a moment he seemed to be well-nigh paralyzed. He 
stood motionless and gazed out at the surging mass of 
students almost as if he were minded to turn back into 
the car and escape from the threatening peril. But 
the pressure from behind was too strong to permit him 
to carry out his intention and he was compelled to 
move forward. As yet he had not seen his two waiting 
friends and his feeling of utter loneliness swept over 
him afresh. From the lowest step he was about to 
move when another mighty shout went up from the 
assembly and Peter John looked helplessly about him 
as if he were convinced that his doom was sealed and 
for him there was to be no escape. 

Suddenly he darted from the midst of the crowd, send- 
ing two or three young men who chanced to be in his 
way sprawling, and with his quaint carpet-bag still 


22 


WINNING HIS W 


yy 

tightly grasped in his hand fled directly back over the 
railway ties. He had not gone far before his flight was 
perceived and a shout of laughter and derision arose. 
Even the mighty Baker was ignored in the fresh excite- 
ment and instantly a crowd of students started in pur- 
suit of the fleeing freshman. 

‘‘Hi, there! Stop, freshman! Wait a minute; 
we’ll help carry your bag! Look at the sprinter! 
Going home? Good-bye ! Good-bye ! ” were among 
the derisive cries that he heard. There could be no 
mistake, the attention of the entire student body was 
upon him, he was convinced, and his speed increased. 
His long legs, his flying coat tails, his flapping carpet- 
bag, indeed his entire appearance was such that shrieks 
of laughter arose from his pursuers, but Peter John 
never once glanced behind him. Every fresh call 
served to increase his terror. Life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness were about to be taken from him 
and his sole hope depended upon his own exertions. 
It was do or die, and Peter John preferred the former. 

In a brief time the good-natured crowd abandoned its 
pursuit, and Peter John Schenck was left to continue 
his lonely flight. Will Phelps and Foster Bennett had 
joined in the laughter at first, for the ridiculous flight 
of their classmate was well-nigh irresistible ; but when 
it soon became apparent that Peter John’s terror was 
real and that he firmly believed the entire college was 
in swift pursuit of him, their attitude changed. 

“ It’s too bad, Will,” said Foster. “ The poor chap 
is scared almost to death.” 


PETER JOHN'S ARRIVAL 


23 


“ We can’t help it. He’ll have to learn some things, 
if not others,” laughed Will. 

“They’re coming back,” suggested Foster, as the 
pursuit was abandoned and the students laughing bois- 
terously returned to the station. 

Peter John however was still fleeing and his long 
strides and his wildly flapping carpet-bag could be dis- 
tinctly seen as the frightened freshman sped up the 
track. The body of students however had now turned 
into the street that led back to the college grounds, 
and apparently Peter John’s wild flight was already 
forgotten. 

“We must go after him,” said Foster thoughtfully. 

“ Oh, leave him alone,” replied Will. “ He’ll come 
back all right. ’ ’ 

“ You go up to the room and I’ll go and look him 
up.” 

“ Not much ! If you go, then I go too ! I may be 
the next victim and I don’t intend to be offered up 
alone. Come on, or he’ll be clear back in Sterling be- 
fore we And him.” 

Will laughed as he spoke, and at once the two boys 
started up the track in the direction in which their class- 
mate had fled. He could not be seen now for a bend 
in the road had concealed him from sight, and for a 
time his two friends did not dare to run, being fearful 
that they too might attract an undue amount of atten- 
tion and bring upon themselves the many ills from which 
they were striving to save their friend. 

Apparently their departure from the station had not 


24 


WINNING HIS 


V 

drawn the attention of any one, and, as they became 
convinced that they were not being followed, their own 
speed increased until they too had passed the bend in 
the road, when they began to run swiftly. Nothing 
could be seen of Peter John, and when they had gone a 
considerable distance Will Phelps stopped and whistled. 

At first there was no response, but when the signal 
had been thrice repeated both boys heard the voice of 
their friend apparently coming from behind the bushes 
growing on the bank directly beside them. 

“ All alone. Will ? ” called Peter John timidly. 

‘‘Yes. Yes. Where are you, Peter John?” re- 
sponded Will, peering about him, but as yet unable to 
determine where his friend was hiding. 

“ Here I am.” 

“ Where’s that ?’^ 

‘ ‘ Right here. ’ ’ 

“Come out here where we are. Stand up like a 
little man and be counted.” 

“Sure nobody’s with you ? ” 

“ Foster’s here, that’s all.” 

Slowly Peter John arose from his hiding-place and 
peered anxiously about him. “ It’s all right. Come 
on ! ” called Will encouragingly. Thus bidden, Peter 
John stepped forth, still holding tightly in his grasp 
his precious carpet-bag. Will Phelps did not even 
laugh nor did he have any inclination to do so as he per- 
ceived how genuine was the suffering of the terrified boy. 

“ You needn’t be afraid now, Peter John,” he said 
soothingly. “You’re all right.” 


PETER John’s arrival 


25 


“ That was a close call. ” 

‘‘ Call for what ? ’ ’ demanded Foster sharply. Will 
turned and looked in surprise at his room-mate, for the 
tone of his voice was very unlike that which he hud 
used when he had insisted that they should go to the 
aid of their classmate. 

“ I tell you they were after me ! ” said Peter John, 
wiping his brow with a huge handkerchief as he spoke. 

‘ ‘ Who were after you ? ’ ’ demanded Foster still more 
sharply. 

“ The sophomores.’’ 

‘‘ Don’t you believe it ! ” 

‘‘ Why, they’d have got me if I hadn’t put in my 
prettiest.” 

“ Nobody would have paid any attention to you if 
you hadn’t run. You drew it all on yourself and have 
no one else to blame. ’ ’ 

“ Guess you weren’t there when I landed ! They 
gave such a yell when I started from the cars as I 
never heard before in all my born days.” 

“ Did you think they were yelling for you? ” 

‘' Of course I did. I knew they’d be waiting for 
me.” 

“ Peter John, you’ve made a fool of yourself. There 
wasn’t a soul there except Will and me that knew 
there was such a fellow in all the world as Peter John 
Schenck. Everybody in college will know it now, 
though.” 

“What made ’em yell so, then?” demanded Peter 
John. 


26 


WINNING HIS W 


“They weren’t yelling for you at all. They were 
cheering for Baker, the captain of the football team. 
He was just ahead of you.” 

‘ ‘ They were ? ’ ’ 

“ That’s what I said.” Foster smiled slightly as he 
spoke, for the expression upon the face of Peter John 
was a study. Consternation, incredulity, and partial 
unbelief in what Foster had said were all expressed 
there, and his entire attitude was so indescribably lu- 
dicrous as almost to be pathetic. 

‘ ‘ Swan ! I didn’t know that, ’ ’ he said at last slowly. 

“ Well, you know it now.” 

“ What shall I do ? ” 

“ ‘ Do ’ ? Do nothing. Just attend to your own busi- 
ness and let everything else go.” 

“ I thought I was attending to my own business,” 
said Peter John woefully. 

“ Oh, well, never mind, Peter John,” broke in Will 
with a laugh. ‘ ‘ It’s all over now and no bones broken. ” 

“ I wish it wm all over,” said Foster in a low voice 
to Will. 

“ I wish it was too. He’ll be the center of interest 
by to-morrow. And really, Foster, it did beat any- 
thing I ever saw. ’ ’ 

Foster Bennett smiled but made no reply, and to- 
gether the three boys began to retrace their way to the 
station. Peter John evidently was somewhat crest- 
fallen and seldom spoke. At the station no students 
were seen, and the trio at once started up the street 
toward the college. 


PETER John’s arrival 


27 


I suppose my things are in my room,” Peter John 
ventured to suggest. 

“Yes, they’re there all right. I went over this 
morning to see about them. ’ ’ 

“ Thank you. I’ll be pretty busy for the rest of 
the day, I take it.” 

“That won’t do you any harm. You can come 
over and sleep on the couch in our room to-night if 
you would like to,” suggested Foster. 

‘ ‘ Are you all settled ? ’ ’ 

“ Pretty much. Enough so that we can make room 
for you. There’s always room for one more, you 
know.” Foster spoke pleasantly and Peter John was 
quick to respond. They were now near the college 
grounds, however, and the interest of Peter John was 
quickly taken up in his surroundings. Both Will and 
Foster were familiar with the name of every building 
by this time, and their residence of three days in the 
college town had already given to them a sense of part 
possession, and they glibly explained to their classmate 
the name and use of each building as they passed it 
until at last they halted before Leland Hall, where 
Peter John was to have his room. 

“I’d like to know who’s to be my room-mate,” he 
said as all three turned into the low entry and began 
to mount the worn stairway. 

“Probably he’s thinking of the same thing too,” 
laughed Will. “Here you are,” he added as he 
stopped before the door of a room on the third floor. 
“ Yours is twenty -six, isn’t it ? ” 


28 


WINNING HIS 


‘‘Yes/’ 

“ AYell, here it is.” 

“Come on in, fellows,” urged Peter John, opening 
the door as he spoke, and all three found themselves in 
the presence of a young man of their own age, who 
glanced quickly up from the box which he was unpack- 
ing as they entered. 


CHAPTER III 


NEW FKIENDS AND NEW EXPERIENCES 
NE of you, I fancy, is Schenck, who is to room 



here with me. I haven’t the remotest idea 


which one of you is the man, but whichever it is I’m 
glad to see him.” 

The young man laughed heartily as he spoke, and 
all three of the freshmen laughed in response so con- 
tagious was his good nature. But his appearance was 
even more striking than his words, for he stood before 
them like a young giant. He was at least six feet and 
three inches in height,, his shoulders were so broad that 
they made the very doorway appear narrow, and as he 
stood before them without his coat and with his shirt 
sleeves rolled back over his arms, the great knots of 
muscles could be plainly seen. Altogether he presented 
a most impressive sight, and his young classmates were 
duly impressed by his huge size and evident physical 
strength. 

“ I’m Schenck,” said Peter John, after a momentary 
hesitation. 

‘‘Glad to see you,” exclaimed the young giant, 
stepping forward and grasping his room-mate’s hand in 
such a manner as to make Peter John wince. “Yon 
know what my name is, I suppose. I’m Hawley. 


29 


30 


WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

‘ Cupe ’ Hawley they called me in school because I 
was such a dainty and delicate little specimen.” And 
again his laughter broke forth. ‘‘Friends of yours, 
Schenck? ” he added, as he glanced inquiringly at the 
two companions of his room-mate. 

Will Phelps and Foster Bennett were at once intro- 
duced, and warmly greeted their classmate. 

“Sorry I can’t offer you any seats, fellows,” said 
Hawley, still laughing, though there was no apparent 
cause for his enjoyment. “ Haven’t got everything 
unpacked yet ; but if you’ll just wait a minute we’ll 
find something for you to sit on.” 

“ We’ll help you,” said Will Phelps, at once laying 
aside his coat. 

In their own room he and Foster had done but little 
of the labor required in unpacking their belongings, 
for neither had been accustomed to such tasks in the 
homes from which they had come. Their fathers both 
were well-to-do and it had not occurred to either of tlie 
boys that the manual labor in settling their room was 
something to be expected of them. For a moment 
Foster glanced quizzically at his friend as if he was 
puzzled to account for his unexpected proffer, but 
knowing Will’s impulsiveness as he did he was quick 
to respond, and in a brief time the few belongings of 
Peter John and his room-mate were unpacked and the 
beds were set up, the stove was in its place, the shades at 
the windows, and the few scanty belongings all arranged. 

“I didn’t bring a carpet. Did you?” inquired 
Hawley of Schenck. 


NEW FKIENDS AND NEW EXPERIENCES 31 

“ No,” replied Peter John. 

“We can get along without one. I haven’t any 
money to spare, and carpets are luxuries anyway. If 
we feel like it we can buy one afterwards. They’re 
dangerous things though,” and Hawley laughed as he 
spoke. “My doctor says they’re the worst sources of 
contagion in the world, and whatever else I do I must 
be careful of my health.” Again the laugh of the 
young giant rang out, and in its contagion all three of 
his classmates joined. 

And yet as Will Phelps glanced about the room its 
appearance was pitifully bare. The furniture was of 
the plainest, the walls were bare of pictures, there were 
none of the numerous pillows and other tokens of the 
warm regard of friends that had accompanied himself 
and his room-mate into the new life upon which they 
had entered. Apparently, however, Hawley was as 
delighted over his surroundings as he and Foster over 
theirs, perhaps even more, and Will was thoughtful for 
a moment as he silently watched his newly made friend. 

“How did you happen to come to Winthrop?” he 
inquired at last when the task of settling the room was 
measurably complete and all four had seated themselves 
on the rude wooden chairs which made up most of the 
furnishings of the room. 

“I didn’t ‘happen’ to come.” Somehow every- 
thing appeared to be a source of enjoyment to Hawley, 
and questions or remarks were alike greeted with a 
laugh. 

“ What made you, then ? ” 


32 


WINNING HIS ^^W 


y) 

“Isn’t Winthrop the best college in the United 
States ? ’ ’ demanded Hawley. 

“Yes, or at least that’s what my father thinks. He 
graduated here and it may be that his opinion is a 
little prejudiced. Is that why you came ? ” 

“Partly.” Again Hawley laughed and closed one 
eye as he spoke. 

‘ ‘ I can give a guess what the other reason was, ’ ’ 
said Foster. 

“ What was it ? ” 

“Football.” 

Hawley laughed loudly this time as he replied, 
“You’re ‘a very Daniel come to judgment.’ That’s 
from the ‘Merchant of Venice,’ isn’t it? Well, if it 
is, it’s about all I remember of my English course. 
Well, I’ll be honest with you. I did see Baker this 
summer, and he set before me the advantages of com- 
ing to Winthrop in such a way that I couldn’t very 
well say no. And I didn’t, so here I am.” 

“ Did he offer to pay you ? ” demanded Peter John. 

“ Did he offer whatf ” demanded Hawley. 

Somewhat abashed Peter John did not repeat his 
question, and his room-mate at once turned the conver- 
sation into other lines. “We had a pretty good foot- 
ball team in the academy where I fitted for college, and 
there were several colleges, or at least the football men 
of the college, who seemed to be quite willing that some 
of our fellows should go to them. We had a half-back 
who was a dandy ! His name was Patrick O’Hara, 
and he passed better in football than he did in any 


NEW FEIENDS AND NEW EXPEEIENCES 33 

other subject in the course.” And Hawley stopped to 
laugh at the recollection of his former fellow-student. 
“Pat wasn’t very much of a hand to study, and when 
one of the men from White College suggested to him 
that he should come there, why Pat was delighted. 
‘What studies will you take?’ asked the fellow, for 
you see he knew without being told that Pat wouldn’t 
be valedictorian of his class whatever other honor he 
might take, and he was trying to make it easy for him. 
‘Well,’ said Pat, ‘bedad, an’ if it’s all th’ same t’ 
yez, I’m thinkin’ I’ll just be afther takin’ a bit o’ the 
spellin’ an’ perhaps a bite o’ figurin’. How do thot 
be afther suitin’ yez ? ’ ” 

All the boys joined in the laugh with which Hawley 
related the story, and Will Phelps said, “Where did 
Pat go?” 

“Well,” said Hawley slowly, “he has gone to 
White College.” 

‘ ‘ Do you mean to say he has entered there ? ’ ’ de- 
manded AVill. 

“ That’s what they tell me, though I’ve a notion 
he’ll come out the same door he went in, and he won’t 
tarry long either. Probably soon after the season ends. ’ ’ 

“But we play White College. It’s one of our 
nearest rivals,” suggested Will. “But then,” he 
added, “ that’s just like them. They never do a thing 
on the square anyway ! ” 

Hawley pursed his lips up as if he was about to 
whistle, but he did not speak though his eyes twinkled 
with merriment as if Will’s statement somehow was 
c 


34 


WINNING HIS 


hugely enjoyed by him. Foster Bennett noticing the 
expression on Hawley’s face, also laughed, but he did 
not reply to his room-mate’s very positive declaration. 
There were some things which Will could not under- 
stand, for with his intense and impulsive disposition the 
one thing which impressed him at the time was capable 
of only one interpretation. His confidence in Winthrop 
and his dislike of its rival college were therefore only 
what were to be expected of his friend. 

“Obliged to you, fellows,” said Hawley, as Will 
Phelps and Foster Bennett rose to depart. ‘ ‘ Come 
in and see us often. ’ ’ 

“You’ll see enough of us from now on,” responded 
Will as he and his room-mate departed. 

As the two passed out into the street and returned to 
their own room Foster said, ‘ ‘ It’s pretty bare there in 
Leland, isn’t it Will ? ” 

“Yes. They both seem to be happy though.” 

“Not much like our room.” 

“No. But then, Foster, you see they don’t know 
the diflTerence.” 

Foster smiled but made no response, and Will con- 
tinued. “You see everything in this world is relative. 
A man doesn’t miss what he never had, does he ? ” 

“ Perhaps not.” 

“ Now look here, Foster. Do you think a blind 
man suffers because he can’t see? I mean a man who 
was born blind, of course. ’ ’ 

“ What then ? ” 

“ Why, the man I’m sorry for is the one that could 


NEW FRIENDS AND NEW EXPERIENCES 35 


see once and has lost his sight. He knows, let me tell 
you, what he’s lost. But the other man doesn’t ap- 
preciate it. He never could see, so he couldn’t lose 
his sight, could he? Tell me that.” 

“ So you wouldn’t do anything to help him ? ” 

“ I didn’t say that. I didn’t say that at all. All 
I say is that the fellow I’m sorry for is the one who 
has had and lost, not the one who never had. Now 
look at Peter John, and Hawley. Their room isn’t 
so good as ours, but it probably is just as good as they 
expected, or have been used to, so they don’t suffer any. ” 
‘ ‘ And if you and I had to put up with their room 


“ Why, we’d feel it.” 

“ It’s a mighty comfortable way of looking at things, 
that’s all I have to say.” 

“ But it’s the true way,” said Will glibly. “ There’s 
one thing I’m mighty glad of for Peter John’s sake.” 

‘‘What is it?” 

“ That he rooms with Hawley. I don’t believe the 
sophs will bother him very much.” 

“ Not when Hawley’s on hand.” 

“You think they will when he’s not ? ” 

“Yes, sir, I do. Peter John just invites them. It 
stands right out on his face.” 

“Sort of a standing invitation, so to speak?” 
laughed Will Phelps. “ Well, for my part, I hope he 
won’t be too fresh. There’s everything in that, you 
know.” 

“ And therefore we’ll go scot free? ” 


36 


WINNING HIS 

“ Well, Hawley is a great fellow anyway ; and I’m 
glad he’s in our class.” 

“ He’s big, anyway.” 

“ That’s what I said.” 

“No you didn’t, you said great.” 

“ Same thing.” 

“ Not much. A man can be big without being great, 
can’t he? Caesar and Napoleon were not big men, but 
I think you’d sum up that they were great.” 

“Great butchers, if that’s what you mean. You 
always spin it out too fine for me, Foster.” 

Foster Bennett laughed and both boys entered their 
room to prepare for dinner. They still were taking 
their meals at the hotel, as their boarding-place had 
not been selected. In the thoughts of both it was a 
selection of too much importance to be made hastily, 
and they were therefore waiting until they became 
more familiar with the details of their new life. 

For the three days which followed, the novelty served 
to absorb the most of their time and attention. The 
first time they assembled as a class in the college chapel 
was a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Even the very 
exercises of the morning stamped themselves upon their 
memories so that in after years Will Phelps could 
never hear the psalm read which the college president 
had selected for his reading on that first morning, with- 
out having forcibly brought to his mind the vision of 
the hundred boys, all eager and bright^eyed and look- 
ing about them with an interest as deep and similar to 
his own. 


NEW FRIENDS AND NEW EXPERIENCES 37 

As the class filed out from the chapel they were 
greeted with derisive calls and queries from the sopho- 
mores who stood about in front of the building to 
observe the actions of the incoming class. There was 
however no outbreak of trouble, and in accordance 
with the instructions given that morning they pro- 
ceeded to the recitation building where their lessons 
were assigned and the rules of the college were duly 
read and explained. 

It was all novel and interesting, and on the follow- 
ing day the first class meeting was held. A dignified 
junior presided at the meeting, and after explaining 
what was expected and that the class officers to be 
selected were to serve only for a month, when it was 
thought that the members of the class would have 
become sufficiently acquainted with one another to 
enable them to act with becoming w’isdom, he called 
for nominations for class president. 

Peter John Schenck immediately arose and said, “ I 
nominate Hawley.” 

The nomination was seconded, and there were calls 
for Hawley to step to the platform and stand where all 
the class could see him. The young giant obediently 
advanced and taking his place beside Spencer, who 
also was nominated for the office, awaited the verdict. 
There were cheers when it was announced that Hawley 
had won, and the junior then called for nominations 
for secretary and treasurer. 

Again Peter John arose to the occasion and said, I 
nominate Phelps.” 


38 


WINNING HIS 

Will’s face flushed scarlet at the unexpected words, 
but his room-mate at once had seconded the nomination, 
and he was compelled to advance to the platform and 
stand beside Farmer and McVey, whose names were 
also presented for the same office. There was some 
confusion for a time, but quiet was restored when the 
result of the ballot was announced. 


CHAPTER IV 


A CLOUD OF WITNESSES 

W ILL PHELPS had been elected temporary sec- 
retary and treasurer of his class, the choice hav- 
ing been made chiefly because his appearance, as he 
stood on the platform, pleased his classmates, and not 
because of any general acquaintance that had been 
formed. And yet his election had brought him at once 
into a certain prominence, and doubtless Will was duly 
appreciative of the honor bestowed upon him. 

The member of the junior class to whom had been 
entrusted the organizing of the freshmen now rose to 
give some general words of advice before the meeting 
was adjourned. “There are some things in college,” 
he was saying, “ that have the force of laws. Some of 
them will appear foolish to you, it may be, and yet it 
will be more foolish to disregard them. For example, 
freshmen are not expected to go up to the hotel parlors 
in the evening, it would be decidedly better for them 
not to display on their caps or jersey the letters or nu- 
merals of the schools from which they have come, they 
must not wear corduroy trousers, and they must not 
tack their cards on the doors of their rooms. ” Walker, 
the junior, continued his directions until he thought he 
had covered most of the details of the life upon which 

39 


40 


WINNING HIS 

the incoming class was entering, but his remarks were 
not completed when Peter John Schenck arose from his 
seat and stood facing the president. There was a mo- 
mentary pause as Walker ceased speaking, and the eyes 
of all the class were turned toward Peter John. 

After due deliberation, Peter John said in a loud 
voice, “Mr. President, I move that we adjourn.” 

The hush that followed was broken by a loud laugh 
which had been started by Walker himself. Peter 
John, however, glanced about the room as if he was 
unable to perceive what it was that had caused the out- 
break. Apparently unabashed, he again turned to the 
class president and said, “Isn’t a motion to adjourn 
always in order, Mr. President? If it is, then I re- 
peat my former motion. I move that we adjourn.” 

Hawley was too good-natured to treat the inter- 
ruption as it deserved, so he said, “Is the motion 
seconded ? ” 

Apparently it was not, and still unabashed, Peter 
John again took his seat while Walker resumed his 
remarks. 

“I don’t know that I have anything more to say, 
only to tell you fellows to be careful. College tradi- 
tions and customs have all the force of laws, and though 
some of them may seem to be foolish, still I believe in 
the main they help to make the life here what it is, and 
that’s what you all want to get. If you have any 
questions to ask, don’t be afraid to come to me with 
them, or to any of the juniors, and you’ll be given all 
we know, which, though I can promise you it may not 


A CLOUD OF WITNESSES 


41 


be much, still may be just a little more than you know. 
Or, perhaps, some of you,” he added, glancing quizzi- 
cally in the direction of Peter John Schenck as he 
spoke. 

When Walker departed from the room, Peter John 
was again the first to arise. “ I move we adjourn,” he 
said in a loud voice. 

“Second the motion,” said Foster Bennett quickly. 
The motion was put and instantly carried, and the class 
passed out from the room. 

“It was anything to shut up Peter John,” Foster 
explained to Will as he joined his room-mate. “Did 
you ever see the like ? ’ ’ 

“ I never did,” laughed Will. “ I feel almost guilty 
to be acting as secretary for the class. If we had ten 
other offices to vote upon, I believe Peter John would 
have made the first nomination for every one.” 

^ ‘ He certainly is the freshest freshman in the whole 
bunch.” 

“Yes, he doesn’t know enough to know that he 
doesn’t know, and that’s about as far down as a fellow 
can go in his ignorance, you know.” 

“ What shall we do for him ? ” 

“Nothing.” 

“ But he’ll have trouble.” 

“Sure.” 

“ I’d hate to see him catch it too hard.” 

“ You can’t save him, Foster. He’s got to learn 
his lesson. The idea of his being on his feet so much 
to-day.” 


42 


WINNING HIS 

“Well, he helped us to some good officers anyway, 
I’ll say that much for him,” laughed Foster. “But 
if he made such an impression on our class, what’ll he 
do for the sophomores ? ” 

“ You’d better be thinking about what they’ll do for 
him.” 

Walker now joined the two boys, introducing him- 
self to each, and accompanying them to their room, 
where he entered and took a seat at their invitation. 
He was a fine-looking young man and of most agreeable 
manners, so that soon both Will and Foster were de- 
lighted with him personally and appreciative of the 
honor of the visit from their visitor. 

“No,” Walker was saying, “the hazing doesn’t 
amount to anything much in Winthrop. It’s nothing 
more than a little good-natured ‘ horse play ’ for the 
most part. Of course, once in a while a fellow gets a 
little more attention than the rest of the class ; but as 
a rule it’s his own fault. You have a classmate that’ll 
be very popular with the sophs, if he doesn’t look out,” 
he added with a laugh. 

“Who’s that? ” inquired Will, with a wink at his 
room-mate. 

‘ ‘ The chap that was on his feet so much in the class 
meeting this afternoon.” 

“We were just talking about him,” said Foster 
quickly. “You know he fitted at the same school 
where we did, and naturally we want to lend him a 
hand when we can. What had we better do ? ” 

“Nothing.” 


A CLOUD OF WITNESSES 


43 


What do you mean ? ” 

“ Just what I say. You can’t do much for such a 
fellow ; he has to learn it all for himself. The trouble 
is that he doesn’t know how much or what he’s got to 
learn yet. You can’t do much for such a ” 

Walker stopped abruptly as Peter John himself en- 
tered the room. His face was beaming, and as he re- 
moved his hat his stiff red hair seemed almost to rise 
on his head. “Well, fellows,” he said, “we did 
things up brown this afternoon, didn’t we?” 

“You did too much,” said Walker quietly. 

“Haven’t I as good a right as anybody to make a 
motion ? ” demanded Peter John hotly. 

“You have as much right, but you don’t want al- 
ways to take all your rights, you know. ’ ’ 

“ Why not ? I’ll stand up for my rights every time. 
Now, I don’t believe a word of what you said this after- 
noon.” 

“ You’re complimentary ; but you’re under no obli- 
gations to believe me,” laughed Walker. 

“I don’t mean just that. What I mean is that I’d 
like to see the sophomore who’d tell me what I could 
wear or what I couldn’t ; or where I could go and where 
I couldn’t. He hasn’t anything to say about that.” 

‘ ‘ He thinks he has, ’ ’ suggested W alker quietly. 

“ I don’t care what he thinks. I know my rights, 
and I intend to stand up for them too ! ” 

‘ ‘ Is that why you were running up the railroad track 
the day when you came to Winthrop?” demanded 
Will Phelps. 


44 


WINNING HIS 

“ Never you mind about that ! ” retorted Peter John 
in nowise abashed. ‘‘ That was when I didn’t know 
as much as I do now. ’ ’ 

“ Three or four days will do great things for a fel- 
low,” remarked Walker dryly. 

“Yes, sir, that’s so. You’re right about that,” 
acknowledged Peter John graciously. “Say, fellow’s, 
what are you goiug to do about these Greek letter so- 
cieties ? ” he inquired abruptly, turning to his two class- 
mates as he spoke. 

Both Will Phelps and Foster Benuett glanced un- 
easily at Walker, but the junior only smiled and made 
no response. It was apparent though that the topic 
Peter John had broached was one upon which all three 
had been conferring. 

“ We haven’t done anything as yet,” said Foster. 

“Neither have I,” acknowledged Peter John. “I 
thought I’d take my time before I decided which one 
I’d join. I suppose I’ll have to write home to pa, but 
he won’t know as much about it as I do. 

“We live and learn,” said Walker as he rose to de- 
part. “ I’ll see you to-night ? ” he inquired of Will and 
Foster as he stopped for a moment in the doorw’ay. Will 
glanced questioningly at his room-mate and then said : 
“ Thank you. Walker. We’ll be very glad to come.” 

“Where you going? What did he want?” de- 
manded Peter John when Walker was gone. 

‘ ‘ It was something personal, ’ ’ said Foster. ‘ ‘ W alker 
thinks you’ll have to walk the chalk line, Peter John, 
or you’ll have trouble with the sophs.” 


A CLOUD OF WITNESSES 


45 


“ He does, does he? Well, I’ll show him. I’d like 
to know what right they’ve got to tell me what to do. 
I’ll do as I please ! My chum ” 

It was instantly plain to the boys now the cause for 
this sudden and strange change in Peter John’s atti- 
tude. He was relying upon the prowess of Hawley to 
protect him now and apparently was confident that he 
would not be molested since he roomed with the young 
giant whose name already was known throughout the 
college and from whom such great things were expected 
for the football team. 

“ Don’t depend too much upon Hawley ! He can’t 
be everywhere, remember,” said Foster warningly. 

“I’ll show ’em, if they come near me!” retorted 
Peter John as he departed. 

For several days the college life went on quietly, and 
the boys were becoming somewhat accustomed to their 
new surroundings. There had been a “ sweater rush ” 
between the two lower classes, in which Hawley had 
been entrusted with the precious sweater, and, sur- 
rounded by his classmates, successfully defended it 
against the onslaught of the sophomores. The struggle 
had been severe but in good part, and the worst results 
had been some torn clothing and bruised faces. The 
freshmen wore upon their arms a strip of white cloth to 
enable them to distinguish their own comrades, and 
great was their elation when after the time limit had 
expired, it was discovered that the coveted sweater was 
unharmed. The strength of Hawley had been as the 
strength of ten and his praises were in every mouth. 


46 


WINNING HIS 

Into this struggle Will Phelps had thrown himself 
with all his might, and when he joyfully emerged from 
the struggling mass of humanity gathered about Hawley 
his rejoicing was great and his cheers for the class were 
among the loudest. 

On the border of the crowd he had perceived Peter 
John, but his classmate displayed no evidence of the 
recent struggle and Will was about to question him, 
when Peter John himself said, “ Come over to my room 
to-night. Will.” 

“All right.” Will Phelps had promised readily, 
and then the matter departed from his mind as he 
rushed about among his classmates. 

That evening he suddenly glanced up from the book 
he was studying and said to his room-mate : ‘ ‘ Foster, I 
agreed to go over to Peter John’s room to-night. W ant 
to go ? ” 

“Can’t say that I’m pining for it. What does he 
want ? ” 

“I don’t know. He seemed to be very much in 
earnest about it, though.” 

“ Is it much nearer from here to his room than it is 
from his room to ours? If he wanted to see you so 
much, why didn’t he come over here ? ” 

“ That isn’t Peter John’s way,” laughed Will. “I 
promised to go, so I think I’ll run over for a minute. 
I’ll be back pretty soon.” 

“If you need me let me know,” called Foster as 
Will departed, and he then at once resumed his task. 

Will Phelps ran across the campus to Leland Hall, 


A CLOUD OF WITNESSES 


47 


and as he turned in at the dimly lighted hall the con- 
trast between his own surroundings and those in which 
he now found himself was for the moment almost pain- 
ful. The stone step at the entrance had been worn 
away by the passing of boyish feet over it for more than 
a century. For a moment there flashed into his mind 
the thought of the eager lives that there had been 
trained and long since had passed over into the land 
beyond. Will himself was the fourth generation in 
direct descent in his own family to enter Winthrop, 
and as he now passed slowly up the rough, narrow, and 
worn stairway, he found himself thinking of his own 
father and grandfather and great-grandfather, all of 
whom doubtless had many a time been in the very same 
hallway where he himself then was. Even then from 
far down the street came the sounds of song and laugh- 
ter of some passing body of students and the faint sound 
he could hear was for the moment almost like the echo 
of long past days. The very hall seemed to echo also 
with the footfalls of students who had long since com- 
pleted their course and passed on. He was surrounded 
by a cloud of witnesses. 

Suddenly from the floor above him came the sound 
of noisy shouts and shrieks of laughter. The vision of 
other days and other men instantly departed, and the 
full force of the appeal of the present swept over him. 
Bounding up the steps, two at a time, he swiftly came 
to the third floor and then stopped abruptly as the 
shouts were redoubled and evidently came from Peter 
John Schenck’s room. 


48 WINNING HIS 

For a moment Will hesitated, almost tempted to turn 
back, but his feeling of curiosity was strong and reso- 
lutely he advanced and rapped upon the door. This 
was quickly opened and Will stepped inside the room. 
The door had iustantly been closed and bolted behind 
him, but Will was hardly aware of that so interested 
was he in the sight upon which he gazed in the room 
which was filled with a noisy group of students. 


CHAPTER V 


UNSOUGHT ATTENTIONS 

O NE glance about him had been sufficient to convince 
Will Phelps that his classmates were suffering 
from a visit of the sophomores, a dozen or more of 
whom he recognized as being in the room. He looked 
quickly behind him at the door, but this already had 
been closed and three of the stalwart sophomores were 
standing with their backs against it, the others being 
stationed at different points about the room. In 
the center stood Mott, a lusty sophomore whom he 
had frequently seen and whose general bearing he had 
intensely disliked, for his face bore the unmistakable 
traces of dissipation and his bearing was that of a 
rowdy. The fact that Mott had secured a high posi- 
tion among the college athletes had in a measure made 
amends for his low tendencies of life in the eyes of his 
thoughtless mates, but though he was by nature some- 
what of a leader still his personal popularity was low, 
and it was only his physical prowess that gave him any 
standing. 

Seated upon one end of his study table was Hawley, 
his face beaming with good nature and smiling broadly 
as he faced the assembly in the room. In one corner 
Peter John was standing, his back against the w’all 
D 49 


50 WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

and in his hands was one of the heavy wooden chairs 
which he was grasping by the rounds. Even in the 
somewhat dim light Will could see that the great 
splotches of red on Peter John’s face appeared to be 
larger and of a more fiery tint than usual, and his 
coarse red hair fairly stood on end. There was an 
expression of mingled terror and wild, almost ungovern- 
able, rage on his face, and Will knew what that por- 
tended at that time. A brief silence had followed 
Will’s entrance, and Mott had turned to some of his 
comrades and a meaning smile appeared for a moment 
on his face as he perceived who the new-comer was. In 
a moment, however, the tense stillness of the room re- 
turned, and Mott, turning to Peter John, said : 

Now then, freshman, are you ready ? ” 

“I’ll brain the first man that comes near me ! Don’t 
you lay a finger on me or I’ll break your head ! This 
is my room and I’ll have you understand that you can’t 
play any of your dirty tricks on me ! ” 

Peter John’s voice rose almost to a shriek, and lift- 
ing the chair he gazed menacingly at Mott, almost as 
if he was minded to rush upon him. Hawley laughed 
as his room-mate spoke, but Will’s face became pale 
and he could almost hear the beating of his own heart, 
so intensely excited was he. He understood Peter 
John’s disposition better than any of those who were 
in the room, and his fear of what might follow was 
great. 

“We’ll give you one more chance,” said Mott 
slowly. 


UNSOUGHT ATTENTIONS 


51 


“I don’t want anymore chances. I want you to 
get out of this room ! I didn’t ask you to come ! 
You’ve no right here ! ” shouted Peter John. 

‘‘You didn’t have to ask us,” retorted Mott. “ AVe 
came because you need us and for the good of the col- 
lege. Come, freshman, do what I tell you.” 

“ Don’t you come near ” began Peter John, but 

the sentence was not completed. At some unseen sig- 
nal a half-dozen sprang upon him. Before he could 
bring down the chair which he still was holding above 
his head he was suddenly seized by his adversaries, the 
chair was wrenched from his hands, he was thrown 
heavily to the floor, and in a moment his hands and 
feet were fast bound with cords, and he was a helpless 
prisoner. Still he did not cease his struggling, but as 
he twisted and writhed he only drew the cords more 
tightly and made his own helplessness more apparent. 

“I know who you are ! ” he shrieked. “I’ll re- 
port you, every one ! I’ll give the whole list of your 
names to the president ! I’ll have you arrested ! I’ll 
put you in jail ! You’re a lot of thieves and low-down 
scoundrels ! I’ll have you put where you won’t abuse 
anybody any more!” Peter John’s voice rose with 
every fresh threat until at last it almost broke in a sob. 
He was almost beside himself, and Will Phelps, though 
he shared in the anger of his classmate, was rejoiced that 
he was helpless and could not do what his desperation 
prompted. 

“Tie your handkerchief over his mouth, Hines, 
said Mott to one of his companions. “We must hush 


52 


WINNING HIS 

the infant’s wailings or he’ll have the whole of Win- 
throp up here. He seems to have some language 
besides that of the ordinary ‘ infant crying in the 
night.’ ” 

At Mott’s direction Hines and two of his classmates 
at once securely bound a handkerchief about Peter 
John’s face, a task that was not accomplished without a 
desperate struggle. 

“ Now then, since he seems to be quieted,” said Mott 
at last, when his bidding had been done, “ we’ll turn to 
the other part of the programme. Here, you fresh- 
man,” he added, turning to Will Phelps as he spoke, 
‘ ‘ step up here and take your seat beside your class- 
mate.” 

For an instant Will hesitated. The sight of Peter 
John roused every instinct of combativeness which he 
possessed, and that was by no means small, but a laugh 
from Hawley restored a measure of self-possession, and 
quietly and without a word he seated himself on the 
table by the side of his friend. 

“ Good ! That’s the way to do it ! Now then, 
Hawley,” said Mott, “you’ve got to get rid of that 
eternal grin of yours. Wipe that smile off your face 
and throw it out of the window.” 

Hawley laughed aloud as he said, “I’ve been trying 
to get rid of it for nineteen years, but I haven’t suc- 
ceeded yet. If you fellows will show me how to do it 
I’ll be yours truly now and for evermore.” 

Some of the sophomores laughed, but Mott glared 
angrily at them as he said, “ Quit that ! ” Then turn- 


UNSOUGHT ATTENTIONS 


53 


ing again to Hawley he said, “ Oh, we’ll help you all 
right enough. J ust do as I tell you ! ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ How shall I do it ? ” 

‘‘Take your handkerchief and wipe that smile off 
your face and throw it out of the window as I tell you.” 

Hawley drew a huge handkerchief from his pocket 
with which he vigorously rubbed his face, and then 
going soberly to the window pretended to throw some- 
thing out ; but when he returned to his seat his laughter 
became uncontrollable and he broke forth into a loud 
guffaw, in which some of the assembly joined. 

At Mott’s rebuke the laughter ceased, and then he 
said again to Hawley, “That won’t do, freshman. 
You’re not rid of it yet. Try it again ! ” 

Six times the huge and good-natured freshman was 
compelled to repeat his senseless and silly performance, 
and then Mott declared that he was satisfied. 

“Don’t have a relapse, ” he said warningly, and 
then, turning to Will Phelps, he said, “Now I want 
my nice little boy, mamma’s pet and papa’s joy, to 
show what a good little boy he really is. He isn’t 
going to do any of the naughty things that some of the 
wicked little college boys do. He is strong, he is, and 
he promised mamma he wouldn’t, and he won’t. Let’s 
give him a song, fellows,” he added, turning to his 
classmates, and at once the boys began to sing : 

“ We’re coming, we’re coming, our brave little band, 

On the right side of temperance we always do stand ; 

We don’t use tobacco, for this we do think, 

That those who do use it most always do drink.” 


54 


WINNING HIS ^^W^’ 

Some of the singers had very musical voices and the 
simple little ditty sounded very clear and strong as 
they all joined in it. Will Phelps, however, was think- 
ing of what it was that would be required of him. 
Then flashed into his mind the last conversation he had 
had with his mother and in which he had given her a 
promise not unlike that at which Mott had hinted. 
And he intended to keep it too, he assured himself. 
Come what might, he would not break it. He even 
smiled slightly as he thought of what his mother’s 
feelings would be if she could look into Peter John’s 
room and see what was then going on there. 

As the song ceased abruptly Will said, ‘‘ What is it 
you want me to do, Mott ? ’ ’ 

“ Well, now, freshman, that’s cool. You can’t help 
being a freshman, but it’s not well even for a fresh- 
man to be too fresh. Ever hear the like of that, fel- 
lows? ” he inquired of his classmates. 

“ Never did. Never did,” responded several, shak- 
ing their heads soberly. 

“ Just think of it,” began Mott again. “ Here’s a 
freshman who is so anxious to get into our good graces 
that he’s not only willing to do what we tell him but 
he even comes and asks us what it is we want him to do. 
That beats anything old Winthrop has ever seen yet.” 

Will’s face flushed, but he was silent, though Haw- 
ley began to laugh again. “Now, then, freshman,” 
said Mott, pointing his finger at Will, “ we want you 
to get down on the floor and wrestle wdth temptation.” 

“ There’s nothing here that tempts me very much,” 


UNSOUGHT ATTENTIONS 


55 


replied Will coolly, and Hawley promptly laughed 
aloud. 

You do as I tell you ! Get down on the floor and 
wrestle with temptation,’’ demanded Mott sharply. 

“I don’t mind doing it if it will please you any,” 
responded Will as he slid from his seat on the table to 
the floor. 

“ That’s the way. Now then, papa’s joy and mam- 
ma’s pet, show us how it is that you do the trick.” 

Stretched upon the floor. Will Phelps went through 
his struggle with an imaginary foe. He twisted and 
writhed and struggled, shrieks of laughter greeting his 
efforts from the assembled sophomores, and even Haw- 
ley joined in, so ridiculous was the appearance which 
Will presented. 

“That’s very good, very good indeed ! ” remarked 
Mott when several minutes had elapsed. “You’d 
better get up now and take a seat beside your friend. ’ ’ 

Will quickly did as he was bidden, laughing slightly 
as he glanced at Hawley, whose imperturbable good 
nature was not in anywise ruffled. 

“ Hawley, you’re a great football player, I under- 
stand,” said Mott. 

“ I’m a big player, can’t say that I’m great. Some 
fellows might think so, but it depends on whether 
they’ve seen much or know much, I fancy.” 

“ That’s right. You’re as modest as Mary’s little 
lamb. I hear you’re a great sprinter,” he added, 
turning abruptly to Will Phelps. 

“Oh, I can run a little, If you’ll give me the 


56 


WINNING HIS 

chance now I’ll show you how I can leave the sophs 
behind,” said Will with a laugh, for he was now feel- 
ing somewhat the effects of Hawley’s manner of meet- 
ing his tormentors, and as he glanced down at Peter 
John it required no deep insight to perceive which was 
the better way. 

The boys in the room laughed good-naturedly and 
one of them said, “That’s enough, Mott. They don’t 
need any more.” 

“Hold on, I’m not done yet,” replied Mott. “ Tell 
me what’s the name of the little school from which you 
came,” he demanded of Will. 

“ The Sterling High School.” 

‘ ‘ And you ran there ? ’ ’ 

“A little.” 

“ Get any medals.” 

“A few.” 

“ Nice ones ! Got any here ? ’ ’ 

On his fob Will wore the gold medal which he had 
won the preceding J une, but he laughed and made no 
reply to Mott’s question, fearful of incurring further 
ridicule if he should display the trophy. 

“ Did you run against the track team of the Meadow- 
brook Academy ? ” inquired Mott. 

“No. Is that where you fitted?” replied Will 
simply. Hawley broke into another loud laugh and 
Mott’s face flushed. Will perceived that he had made 
a mistake and his better plan would be to say as little 
as possible, whatever the provocation might be or the 
opening his adversary might give him. 


UNSOUGHT ATTENTIONS 


67 


‘ ‘ Did you beat the fast sprinter from the Toad Hol- 
low Institute?” demanded Mott. 

“ Can’t say that I did. I never heard of the school 
till now. ” 

“ Ever run against anybody from the Honey ville 
Classical Seminary.” 

“No.” 

‘ ‘ Or from the Smartville Four Corners team ? ’ ’ 

“We didn’t have anything to do with those schools. 
We weren’t in their class.” 

“Oh, let up, Mott. We’ve done enough. Let ’em 
go now,” suggested one of the sophomores. 

“Not yet, ’ ’ responded Mott. “We must have these 
freshmen give us an exhibition of what they can do. 
You fellows take off your collars,” he said, turning 
again to Will and his classmate. 

For an instant Will Phelps hesitated and there was a 
sudden tightening of the muscles in his arms, but Haw- 
ley, good-natured and imperturbable as ever, at once 
removed his collar and Will quietly followed his ex- 
ample. 

“That’s good,” said Mott encouragingly. “Now 
take out your collar buttons.” 

Both freshmen obeyed, wondering what was to be 
required of them. Their curiosity was speedily relieved 
when Mott said, “ We’ll have a collar-button race. 
You two athletes put these buttons on the floor and 
push them across to the other side of the room with 
your noses. The one that wins will make the track 
team here I haven’t a doubt.” 


58 


WINNING HIS 

Hawley again laughed loudly as lie and Will took 
the places assigned them. For a moment their faces 
were near together and Hawley whispered a few words 
in Will’s ear. His companion’s eyes flashed in re- 
sponse, but he did not reply, and in a moment, at 
Mott’s word, the race was begun. 


CHAPTER VI 


A RACE IN THE DARKNESS 

S LOWLY and steadily the two freshmen began to 
push the collar buttons across the floor. The 
floor itself was uncarpeted and not particularly clean, 
and the position and actions of the two boys cer- 
tainly did not add to their dignity ; but there was not 
a trace of a smile to be seen on the face of either as 
they complied with the demands which had been made. 
The sophomores in the room were also serious, that is, 
all were save one, and, as he laughed aloud at the ridicu- 
lous aspect of their victims, Mott said savagely, “ Put 
him out ! He’s no business here? Get out of this 
room ! ” 

The offending sophomore, despite his protests and his 
promise to “be good,” was thrust out from the room, 
and the race was then resumed. Whenever either of 
the contestants lagged or one seemed to be gaining 
slightly upon the other he was sharply bidden to make 
good his loss, and when the two freshmen had come near 
the side of the room which they were seeking to gain 
the collar buttons were close together and each fresh- 
man could see the expression on his companion’s face. 
Perhaps it was well for them both that the members of 
the rival class could not see the quiet glance which 

59 


60 


WINNING HIS 

Hawley gave Will nor its equally keen response, but 
the look was understood by both freshmen and they 
were aware that the critical time in the contest was 
approaching. 

They were by this time within two feet of the door 
which opened into the hall. The sophomores who had 
been standing in front of it now moved back to give 
the contestants room, and as Hawley perceived that the 
way was clear, after looking up for a moment and glan- 
cing keenly at his classmate, he suddenly leaped to his 
feet and Will instantly followed his example. Before 
the astonished sophomores w^ere fully aware of what 
was occurring both had darted through the doorway 
after Hawley had with almost incredible quickness flung 
open the door. Instantly it was closed, and Hawley, 
seizing the iron handle of the catch and putting forth 
all his strength, braced his feet against the wall and 
prepared to hold the inmates prisoners in the room. 

“Get Andrews and Briggs!’’ whispered Hawley, 
and Will quickly darted across the hallway to the room 
of his two classmates. A word was sufficient to inform 
them of what was occurring, and in an incredibly brief 
time all three were standing beside Hawley. 

The giant freshman was holding the door, which 
opened inward, easily, though the sophomores in the 
room were striving desperately on their side. But 
Hawley had the strong handle and only the tiny latch 
could be seized from within. Numbers counted for 
nothing in this struggle, as only one could pull at a time. 

The silence in the building was unbroken, though 


A RACE IN THE DARKNESS 


61 


the first thought of the bold freshmen had been that 
their sophs would throw open the window and summon 
their classmates to their aid. Whether it was due to 
their excitement or to the fact that they did not wish 
to have their predicament known, Will Phelps never 
learned, but no outcry was made, though the steady 
pull upon the door continued. 

‘‘I’ve got ’em ! ” whispered Hawley gleefully. “ If 
the latch doesn’t give way they won’t see outdoors 
again till I give ’em leave. Kun, Will !” he added 
hastily. “ Get twenty of our fellows here as soon as 
you can and we’ll fix ’em yet. I can hold on here 
forever ! ’ ’ 

Leaving his classmates at the doorway. Will Phelps 
ran swiftly down the stairs and sped across the campus 
to his own room. He found his room-mate seated at his 
desk, evidently hard at work. Foster glanced up re- 
provingly as Will burst into the room and said, “I 
thought. Will, you were ” 

He stopped abruptly as he perceived how excited 
his classmate was, but before he could make any inqui- 
ries Will broke in : “We’ve got a lot of sophs shut up 
in Peter John’s room ! Get some of the fellows and 
make for the room ! Hawley’s holding ’em in ! Tell 
Jones and Camp to come and then tell them to get 
some more and every one to bring two or three with 
him. Get some more yourself and I’ll do the same.” 

Before his astonished room-mate could make any fur- 
ther inquiries. Will darted out of the room and ran 
down the stairway covering three steps at a leap. But 


62 


WINNING ms 

Foster understood what it Avas that was demanded of 
him, and, without hesitating an instant, seized his cap 
and swiftly followed. 

The scheme worked marvelously well, and within five 
minutes a band of twenty -five freshmen had assembled 
in the hall in front of Peter John’s and Hawley’s room 
in Leland. Hawley was still holding the door and no 
outcry from within the room had been heard. 

“ How many sophs room in this entry ? ” said Will 
quickly. 

‘ ‘ Four, ’ ’ replied Hawley. ‘ ‘ Two in the front corner 
room on the second floor and two in the back corner.” 

‘ ‘ Can you hold on till we can fix them ? ’ ’ 

“ I can hold on forever. But you’d better be quick 
about it.” 

At Will’s word four of his classmates followed him to 
the floor below and two were speedily assigned to hold 
one door while two more held the other. They were 
to be quiet, and, if no outbreak Avas made, then they 
were not to make their presence known, but under no 
circumstances were the sophomores to be permitted to 
come out from their rooms. 

As soon as this arrangement had been perfected Will 
ran SAviftly back to join Hawley and his classmates on 
the floor above. HaAvley Avas still standing at his post 
of duty, but as Will approached he laughed silently 
and whispered : 

“ What’ll we do noAV, fellows ? ” 

Several whispered suggestions were made, but at last 
it was agreed that the assembled freshmen should step 


A RACE IN THE DARKNESS 


63 


back on either side and that Hawley should permit the 
door to be partly opened. It was confidently believed 
that the sophomores would rush out, and, if they did, a 
half-dozen were to be permitted to come forth and these 
were to be seized as silently as possible and bound by 
the freshmen as their own unfortunate classmate, Peter 
John Schenck, had already been treated. When a few 
had emerged and been seized then Hawley was to strive 
to close the door again and hold the others within, and, 
with the force thus divided, no strong resistance could 
be made and the treatment which they were to receive 
could be determined upon. 

As soon as this decision had been made Hawley with- 
drew from the door, but there was no pressure upon it 
from within, and for a moment the assembled freshmen 
stared blankly at one another as if they feared that their 
game had escaped them and that they themselves were 
the ones to appear in the unenviable light. Will Phelps 
advanced as if he was about to open the door, but a 
silent gesture from Hawley caused him to abandon the 
project. As he stepped back the latch clicked and the 
door was suddenly opened. Evidently the inmates were 
surprised that the door was free, and three or four cau- 
tiously stepped forth to peer into the dimly lighted hall. 
Before they were fully aware of the true condition of 
affairs they were seized by the waiting freshmen. There 
were sounds of a momentary struggle, but when those 
who were within the room attempted to come forth the 
door was quickly closed in their faces and they were 
prisoners again. The four who had been seized were 


64 


WINNING HIS 

quickly bound, and then the assembly turned once more 
to the door itself. 

“ We’ll go in,” said Hawley, “ and you mustn’t let 
a soph get past you. We must hold every one in 
there. Now then ! ” he added, as he pushed gently 
against the door. 

But the door failed to yield to the pressure. For a 
moment the astounded freshmen knew not what to 
make of the unexpected resistance, and then as a slight 
sound from within the room could be heard, Hawley 
grimly braced himself against the door and whispering 
to his classmates began to exert all his strength in his 
endeavor to open it. 

For a brief time it resisted all their efforts, and then 
with a resounding crash it suddenly yielded. But it 
seemed to the startled freshmen as if the very walls 
themselves were giving way. There were the sound of 
falling pieces of furniture and in the midst of the con- 
fusion several of the sophomores suddenly darted from 
the room, and before their enemies could recover from 
their surprise had gained the head of the stairway and 
were fleeing from the building. 

‘‘Take after ’em! Don’t let ’em get away!” 
called Hawley. “ Hold on, it’s all right,” he quickly 
added as he perceived Mott in the room. “We don’t 
care for anybody else for we’ve got the ringleader right 
here. Let ’em go ! Let ’em all go ! We don’t want 
anybody else.” 

There was a momentary hesitation on the part of tlie 
sophomores as if they were minded to stand by their 


A RACE IN THE DARKNESS 


65 


classmate, but as they peered about them it seemed 
almost as if the entire freshman class were present, 
and instantly discretion became the better part of 
valor, and they fled in a body from the room and also 
from the building. 

Several of the freshmen had seized Mott by this time, 
and his desperate attempts to free himself were unavail- 
ing. Peter John had been quickly freed by Will 
Phelps, and then Will said hastily to Hawley : 

“We’ve stirred up the hornets’ nest enough, 
haven’t we? The sophs will be back here with all 
their class. Shall we let him go ? ” 

“Let him go?” laughed Hawley, whose enjoyment 
seemed to be increasing with every passing moment. 
“ Well, I rather think not.” 

“What shall we do? They’ll be back here 



minute.” 

“ Send everybody to his room. We’ll look after 
this fellow ourselves.” 

Will Phelps turned to his classmates and said : “ Get 
away from this fellows. The sophs will be here in a 
minute and we may all be hauled up before the faculty. 
We’ll look after Mott.” 

Instantly the freshmen ran from Leland Hall, leaving 
Will Phelps and Foster Bennett, and Peter John and 
his room-mate to look after the captive sophomore. 

“What’ll we do with him? ” inquired Will hastily. 

“ Take him over to your room.” 

“ That’ll be the first place they’ll come to when they 
don’t find him here. Still, I’m perfectly willing ” 


E 


66 


WINNING HIS 

‘‘Take him out in the grove/’ suggested Foster 
quickly. “If we can get away from here without 
being seen weTl be all right there.” 

“That’s the thing,” assented Hawley. “Foster, 
you run ahead and see if the coast is all clear, for we 
may have to carry this fellow, and we might attract 
some attention if we should happen to be seen on the 
street. ’ ’ 

“No, you won’t. I’ll go along all right,” spoke up 
Mott. “It’s your turn now, but it’ll be mine again, 
you know, and I’ll see that you freshmen pay up all 
your scores with good interest ! ” 

“ Don’t you threaten us ! ” said Peter John angrily, 
speaking now foi the first time. 

“I’m not threatening you, freshman, I’m just telling 
you what you’ll have to go through, that’s all. You 
can do with me what you please, but whatever you do 
you mustn’t forget that it’ll be paid back five times 
over. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Don’ t stop here any longer. Come ahead, fellows, ’ ’ 
said Hawley quickly. 

The party with Mott in their midst swiftly passed 
down the stairway and turned into the street that led 
toward “the grove,” a clump of huge pine trees that 
had stood for many years on the borders of the rear 
campus of the college. The freshmen glanced anxiously 
about them, but apparently their presence was not 
noted by the few who were to be seen on the street, and 
they quickly increased the pace at which they were 
moving. 


A RACE IN THE DARKNESS 


67 


As they turned into the campus, Mott suddenly broke 
away from his captors who had been somewhat deceived 
by the apparent willingness with which he had followed 
them, and began to run swiftly back toward the college 
buildings. The sophomore was known as one of the 
fleetest footed men in college, and already Will Phelps 
had had him pointed out as one of the few who had 
‘ ‘ made ’ ’ the track team in his freshman year. He 
had looked up to him with the respect that only a 
freshman can know for the prominent men in college 
life, and now was his opportunity to test his own ability 
against that of the fleeing member of the sophomore class. 

Quickly he darted in pursuit, feeling rather than 
perceiving that his own classmates were speedily left far 
behind him. He was exerting himself to the utmost 
and ran as though the prize he was seeking was the 
greatest of coveted honors. As he sped over the grass 
his respect for his rival increased greatly, for whatever 
Mott’s defects might be, there certainly was in him no 
lack of ability to run. The distance between the run- 
ners was steadily maintained, and indeed, it seemed to 
Will as if it was being increased. On and on he ran, 
and the college buildings were now near-by, and if the 
fleeing sophomore should once gain an entrance in one of 
them then Will knew all further pursuit would be useless. 

Suddenly the form of Mott disappeared in the dim 
light and Will Phelps stopped abruptly and peered 
keenly before him. But when his classmates joined 
him and all four cautiously advanced, several minutes 
elapsed before a solution for the mystery was found. 


CHAPTER VII 


splinter’s questions 

D irectly before them the boys could see a long 
ditch or trench which had been dug the entire 
length of the back campus and of whose existence they 
had not been aware. Doubtless Mott had known of it, 
however, and in his flight had made for it with all the 
speed he could command, either hoping to lead his pur- 
suers into difficulty or trusting that it in some way 
would provide a means of escape for himself. 

Whatever his plan may have been it succeeded ad- 
mirably, for when the four freshmen stood together on 
the border of the trench not a sign of the presence of 
Mott could be discovered. In which direction he had 
fled they were also ignorant. It was evident however 
that he was gone and after a careful search had con- 
firmed the conviction in their minds that the sophomore 
had escaped. Will Phelps said : 

“ We’ll have to give it up, fellows. He’s gone.” 
“We can go up to his room and get him,” suggested 
Peter John, who was becoming exceedingly bold under 
the confidence which the presence of his friends gave 
him. 

“We can, but we won’t,” said Hawley bluntly. 

“ Why not ? ” demanded Schenck. 


SPLINTER^S QUESTIONS 


69 


“It’s one thing to defend yourself, but it’s another to 
fly straight into the arms of the sophs. I don’t wonder 
that some of the freshmen get into trouble, they’re so 
fresh. If the sophs didn’t take it out of them I think 
our own class itself would.” 

“That’s so,” responded Peter John cordially. “I’ve 
thought of it myself lots of times. Now there’s Merri- 
vale — he rooms next to me, you know — he ought to be 
shown that he’s too fresh.” 

“What’s he done? ” inquired Foster. 

‘ ‘ Why he came into my room last week and bor- 
rowed fifty cents, and he hasn’t paid it back yet, 
either ! ” 

“ Oh, well, just remember what Mott said, Peter 
John.” 

“ What did he say ? ” 

“ He said every freshman would be paid back with 
interest. ’ ’ 

“I don’t want any interest,” declared Peter John 
in all seriousness. “I’ll be satisfied if I’m paid back 
without that.” 

“ You’ll get it, though,” laughed Will ; and as his 
two companions also joined in his laugh Peter John said 
no more, except that he “couldn’t see anything very 
funny in that ’ ’ 

The boys, however, did not longer delay where they 
were but quietly returned to their rooms, nor were they 
again disturbed that night. Indeed, for several days 
the quiet of the college life w’as not ruffled and both 
Will Phelps and his room-mate began to hope that their 


70 


WINNING HIS 

troubles were at an end. Mott, whom they saw’ on the 
following morning when they were departing from chapel, 
laughed good-naturedly as he greeted them and indeed 
his friendship for them seemed to be increased by the 
recent experiences through which he had passed. Sev- 
eral times he came to the room of Will and Foster and 
remained until his welcome was decidedly threadbare. 
There was something in his bearing that was displeasing 
to both the boys, though there was a certain indefinable 
something about him that was not altogether unpleas- 
ant. His language, his bearing, and his general ap- 
pearance all betokened a certain coatseness of fibre that 
somehow grated upon the feelings of Will and his room- 
mate, though they could not have explained even to 
themselves just what it was. He was such a marked 
man in college, how'ever, and was looked up to by so 
many that there was a certain pleasure in his personal 
attention and both Will and Foster felt in a measure 
the flattery of his evident favor. 

The college work had now begun to settle into its 
regular grooves and when another week had elapsed. 
Will and Foster began to feel that the spirit of their 
surroundings had to an extent been received by them 
and that they were indeed a part of the life. There 
were moments now that came to Will, when do what he 
might he could not banish from his mind the thought 
of the home in Sterling of w’hich practically he was no 
longer a part. The vision of his father seated in his* 
easy -chair in the library of an evening, before the fire 
that glowed upon the hearth, his paper in his hands 


splinter’s questions 


71 


and the very manner in which he occasionally glanced 
up and read to his mother something he had noticed 
seemed to be one that Will could not shake off. The 
pictures on the walls, the very rugs on the floor, and 
the chairs in the room could all be distinctly seen, and 
somehow the sight never failed to bring a certain de- 
pression with it. Will Phelps would indignantly have 
denied that he was homesick, but as the days came and 
went his manner became somewhat subdued and when 
he rose from his bed in the early morning and peered 
forth from his bedroom window at the towering hills 
that were all aglow with the glory of the rising sun, 
somehow their very beauty and grandeur seemed to 
deepen his feeling that he was “ a good way off,” as he 
expressed it, though just what it was that was so far 
away he could only have vaguely expressed or defined. 
Doubtless his room-mate could have explained to him 
that it was the little city of Sterling that now seemed to 
be so remote, for he too was suffering slightly from the 
same malady that troubled his friend. 

Why is it that most boys are so afraid to acknowl- 
edge that they are ever homesick ? Is it the fear that 
they may appear too dependent and less manly if they 
confess their longing for home ? Certainly no boy who 
comes from a good home detracts from his own strength 
of character by acknowledging that he misses the home 
from which he has gone. Indeed, is it not a reflection 
upon the boy and the home alike, if he declares when 
he goes from his father’s house that he misses nothing ? 
To yield to the feeling of homesickness, to permit it to 


72 


WINNING HIS W 


V 

overmaster one and prevent him from performing his 
tasks in the place wherein he finds himself may be a 
confession of weakness, but to suffer nothing from it is 
to declare a weakness or defect greater still. And Will 
Phelps, though he was silent as to his own feelings, 
was sufiering keenly in the early days of his life in 
Winthrop. 

A week had elapsed since the events recorded in the 
preceding chapter and Will and Foster were studying 
busily in their rooms one evening, striving to hold their 
wearied minds to their work, for there had been an un- 
expected written test that day in their Greek and both 
were somewhat anxious as to the results of their efforts. 

Suddenly the door opened and in walked Peter John, 
who had already acquired the collegiate habit of never 
inquiring if his presence was welcome in the room into 
which he came. His face was beaming and it was at 
once evident to both Will and Foster that their class- 
mate had something of importance to declare. 

‘ ‘ How ’d you get along in the test to-day, fellows ? ’ ’ 
was Peter John’s first question. 

“Not very well,” replied Will, motioning for his 
visitor to be seated. 

“ I just killed it.” 

Will and Foster laughed as they heard Peter John 
already indulging in college slang. It seemed so out 
of keeping with his general bearing and appearance. 
The gap between his trousers and his shoes bad never 
been so apparent, his splotches so vivid, nor his hair so 
belligerent as now. 


SPLINTER S QUESTIONS 


73 


** There’s that question, ‘ Who were the mercenaries 
of the Greeks, and what was a mercenary ? ’ I got 
that right, I know I did.” 

“ How did you answer it? ” inquired Foster. 

‘‘Why, I said ‘a mercenary was a man that sold 
himself to some one,’ and I showed what I meant by 
illustrating it.” 

“How?” 

“ I said the professors were the mercenaries of the 
college.” 

“ You did ? ” exclaimed Will, sitting instantly erect. 

“ Yes, sir ; I did. What’s the matter? ” he added, 
as both boys began to laugh loudly. “ Isn’t it true ? ” 

“ Oh, it’s too good to be true. Tell us some more, 
Peter John.” 

“ I can’t see what you fellows are laughing at,” said 
Peter John soberly. “ That answered the question all 
right. I’ll get an ‘ A ’ on that paper. Then there 
was that question, ‘ What was the Greek law and con- 
ception of vengeance ? ’ That bothered me a bit at 
first, but I got it, I’m sure.” 

“ What did you say ? ” inquired Will. 

“Why, that’s as plain as the nose on your face,” 
responded Peter John glibly. “ I said that vengeance 
was a low-down, mean, spiteful attempt to pay back. 
‘ Vengeance is mine and I will repay,’ saith the Lord.” 

“ Oh, you’ll get more than ‘ A ’ on that,” said AVill 
in the extremity of his delight, as he was compelled to 
go to the window and gaze out into the night. “ You’ll 
get at least A square.” 


74 


WINNING HIS 


)) 

“ No, I won’t. They don’t give that. ‘ A ’ is the 
highest mark they give. But I think I got everything 
right. How did you answer that question about what 
Christian tenet the Greeks believed in?” he added, 
glancing at the copy of the questions which he held in 
his hands. 

“ How did you answer it, Peter John?” inquired 
Foster quickly. 

‘‘ I answered it that they believed in the immorality 
of the soul.” 

“In the what f ” demanded Foster soberly. 

“ In the immorality of the soul.” 

“You meant immortality of the soul, didn’t you ? ” 

“ Y-e-s, I suppose I did,” assented Peter John some- 
what ruefully. “But old Splinter will understand,” 
he added quickly. “ Splinter will know I just left out 
a ‘ t,’ and he won’t count that against me.” 

“No, a little thing like a ‘ t ’ doesn’t count for much, 
not any more than a decimal point. It doesn’t make any 
difference whether a decimal point is placed before or af- 
ter a figure, you know. It’s only a little thing anyw^ay.” 

“Yes,” assented Peter John, failing to perceive what 
Foster was saying. “ Then there was one other ques- 
tion that was dead easy,” he added. 

“ Which one was that ? ” 

‘ ‘ The one about the animals. ’ ’ 

“ Let me see, what was that question ? ” said Foster 
thoughtfully. 

“Why, don’t you remember? It was ‘ Name six 
animals that were common among the Greeks.’ ” 


splinter’s questions 


75 


“ Oh, yes ; I recall it now ; but I don’t think I had 
it right. I could think of but four.” 

** Pooh ! Easiest question of the whole lot.” 

** What was the answer ? ” 

‘‘ Easy ! Dead easy ! I just said, ‘ Six dogs.’ ” 

The laughter that rang out in the room might have 
been heard across the campus ; but Peter John was 
only slightly ruffled, and said : 

‘ ‘ Oh, well, you fellows may laugh if you want to, 
but you’ll find out when you see my marks.” 

“ They’ll put you in Splinter’s place as soon as you 
graduate, ’ ’ suggested Foster when at last he regained 
control of himself. 

‘‘I wish they would,” responded Will heartily. 

“Splinter” was the term by which the Winthrop 
boys were accustomed to speak of Professor Hanson, 
who was in charge of their Greek work. The title did 
not appear in the college catalogue, it was true ; but it 
was the only one by which he was known among the 
irreverent students. He was an elderly man, whose 
sensitive nature had sufiered for many years from the 
inadequate preparation of successive classes, until at last 
not only were his teeth on edge, but his entire disposition 
as well. He had become somewhat soured and sarcastic 
in his dealings with the students, and was more unpopular 
than any other professor in the college. His scholarship 
was accurate. His ability to impart his knowledge to 
such students as were eager to learn was also unques- 
tioned, but for the indifferent and lazy, or for the dull 
or poorly prepared, his words were like drops of vitriol. 


76 


WINNING HIS W 

His popular title of Splinter had been bestowed upon 
him because of certain physical characteristics however. 
He was a very tall man and exceedingly thin, and the 
very beard which he wore imparted by its sharp point 
an additionally suggestive emphasis to his slight and 
slender frame. No one knew how the title originated 
or how it came to be bestowed upon the professor ; but 
its appropriateness had at once fastened the term and 
every entering class received it as a heritage from those 
which had preceded it. 

Will Phelps already had acquired a keen dislike for 
the man, and he had laughed heartily when Mott one 
night had declared that the student body had been 
compelled to give Professor Hanson the new name he 
had received. “You see,” Mott had said, “ the faculty 
and the trustees decide what titles a man can wear after 
his name ; so it’s only fair that the students should 
decide what titles he shall wear before his name. Now 
this man’s name used to be simply John Hanson. 
Then some college or other said it should be John Han- 
son, PH. D. AVell, the students here have only gone a 
step further and they’ve not taken anything away from 
the old fellow. They’ve added to him, that’s what 
they have ; and now it’s Prof. Splinter John Han- 
son, PH. D. He ought to be grateful, but it’s a cold 
world and I sometimes fear he doesn’t appreciate what 
was done for him. In fact such bestowments are rarely 
received as they should be.” 

The suggestion Will’s room-mate had made that Peter 
John soon might take Splinter’s place had recalled his 


SPLINTER^S QUESTIONS 


77 


own difficulties with the man, but soon even the 
thoughts of the unpopular professor of Greek were for- 
gotten in the new interest that was aroused by the 
entrance into the room of three young men who were 
at once recognized as members of the junior class. 


CHAPTER VIII 


THE PAKADE 


“ OU’RE just the fellows we’re looking for,” said 



J_ Allen, the leading spirit of the three young men 
who entered the room. 

‘‘You haven’t very far to look, then,” replied Will 
laughingly, for in his heart he felt honored by the un- 
expected visit of the upper classmen. 

“That’s right, freshman. How are you getting 


“ They’ve kept us busy, to say the least.” 

“You mean the sophs ? ” 

“ Yes. That’s the only class we have to think of, 
isn’t it?” 

“ No. Your own class is first.” 

“It’s the best class in college,” interrupted Peter 
John quickly, and all who were in the room laughed 
as the uncouth freshman’s face flushed. 

“ That’s the way to talk,” responded Allen. 

“ But it is. I’m not joking,” persisted Peter John 
seriously. 

“ No doubt. No doubt. But what we’ve come for 
is to tell you about the parade.” 

“ Parade ? What parade ? ’ ’ inquired Foster. 

“ Why, every fall there is a parade of the freshmen. 


78 


THE PAEADE 


79 


They have a brass band usually, at least most of the 
classes have had one and as yours is the best class that 
ever entered college, why you won’t want to fall behind 
the others I know.” 

“ Who pays for the band ? ” demanded Peter John. 

“You do, that is, your class does.” 

“ I won’t pay a cent,” retorted Peter John. 

“You don’t have to,” laughed Allen. “Some of 
the others will make it up. I’m just telling you what 
the custom is and only for your own good.” 

“Go on with your story,” interrupted Will. “ Let’s 
hear about the parade.” 

“It’s to come off next Saturday afternoon, and we 
juniors usually help out in the scheme, you see. We 
try to arrange a part of it for you and help you out in 
some of the details. The whole thing is ‘ horse play, ’ 
just a sort of burlesque, and the more ridiculous you 
can make it, the better.” 

“I’ll not make a fool of myself for anybody,” 
spoke up Peter John sharply. 

“You don’t have to. It won’t be necessary, ” re- 
plied Allen quietly, but in the laugh that followed, 
Peter John took no part. 

“ What do you want us to do ? ” inquired Foster. 

“Well, we suggest that this young man — I’ve for- 
gotten his name,” said Allen, turning to Peter John 
as he spoke. 

“Schenck. Peter John Schenck — that’s my name, 
and I’m not ashamed of it either ! ” said that worthy 
promptly. “ But I don’t propose to hire a band and 


80 


WINNING HIS 


march around the streets making a fool of myself for 
anybody.” 

“You don’t have to,” and again a laugh arose at 
the junior’s words. “I was only suggesting, that’s all. 
But if you want to know what I think, I’m of the 
opinion that if you’d be one to help haul the committee 
from the senior class around in their chariot it would 
be a good thing for you. That’s only a suggestion on 
my part, as I told you, and you can do as you please 
about it. ’ ’ 

“ I don’t please to do it,” replied Peter John sulkily. 

“ What’s the ‘ chariot ’ you spoke of, Allen? ” in- 
quired Will. 

“Oh, it’s only an old hay wagon. It’s been the 
custom for some of the freshmen to haul the officers of 
the senior class around in it. It doesn’t amount to 
much, but honestly I think it will be a good thing for 
you to do it.” 

“ All right, you can count on me,” said Will quickly. 

“I don’t want to count on that from you. I’ve 
something else for you and Bennett to do. ’ ’ 

“What’s that?” 

“I’ll explain it to you.” And Allen at once went 
into the details of the scheme he proposed. Both Will 
and Foster laughed as he laid it before them, and will- 
ingly consented to do their part. Peter John, how- 
ever, said not a word, and when the visitors prepared 
to depart, Allen said, “You’re to assemble at the gym, 
you know, and the parade will be formed in front of 
it on the street. It’ll march up Main Street, down 


THE PARADE 


81 


East End Avenue, around through Walker Street, up 
West Street, across Drury Lane and then back into 
Main Street and then on down to the ball ground. 
There the parade will break up and the freshmen and 
sophomores will have their annual ball game. It’ll be 
great fun if you take it in the right spirit, and you’ll 
have plenty of spectators too.” 

“ How’s that? ” said Foster. 

“Why, the whole college, faculty and all, will turn 
out to see it, and of course all the village people will be 
on hand, and if it’s a good day there’ll be a crowd here 
from out of town. The trains will be crowded that day, 
and there’ll be a good many who’ll come into AVinthrop 
with their coaches and tallyhos and automobiles. You’ll 
never forget the day as long as you live. ’ ’ 

“Great!” exclaimed AVill. “I wish it was to- 
morrow. AYhere shall we get these things we’re to 
wear ? ’ ’ 

“You can find them in the stores, or maybe I’ll be 
able to help you out some. Come down to my room 
to-morrow and I’ll see what can be done. Good night,” 
Allen added, as he and his classmates started down the 
stairway. 

“ Good night,” responded AYill and Foster, and then 
closed the door. 

“ Of all the foolishness I ever heard that beats all,” 
said Peter John when the freshmen were by themselves 
once more. “ Tliey don’t get me into it.” 

“Oh, yes, Peter John. Don’t pull off that way,” 
said AA’^ill cordially. 

F 


82 


AVINJslNG HIS W 


» 

“Not much. I’m not so big a fool as they take me 
to be. ’ ’ 

“ You’ll be a bigger one if you keep out.” 

“Maybe I will, but I’m not going to go into any 
such doings.” 

“Now look here, Peter John. You’re a freshman, 
but you can’t help that and no one blames you for it. 
I’m ” 

“I’m no more a freshman than you are,” retorted 
Peter John warmly. 

“ Right you are. But you don’t want to make a bad 
matter worse. If you keep out you’ll be a marked 
man and everybody in college will hear about it. It’ll 
be a great deal better for you to go in quietly, and 
whatever you think about it, just keep your thoughts 
to yourself, and don’t call the attention of the whole 
college to you by your foolishness. It’ll be simply a 
challenge for the sophs, if you don’t do it, and you’ll 
be the one to suffer. ” 

“ You think so? ” 

“ I know so.” 

“ I guess the sophs found out what sort of a fellow I 
was the other night. I’d have brained the first one 
that laid hands on me.” 

“You didn’t, though, and you wouldn’t. It’s a 
great deal better to do as Hawley did and just laugh 
it off*.” 

“ Oh, I laughed all right, and I’d have given those 
fellows something to laugh about too, if they hadn’t 
tied me up.” 


THE PARADE 


83 


“ Of course, but the trouble is they did tie you up, 
and the next time it’ll be worse than that. It isn’t 
worth while to kick too hard, Peter John. A fellow 
has just got to take some things in life as he finds them 
and not as he’d like to have them. It’s the only way, 
and the sooner he learns it the better.” 

“But my father told me never to let anybody im- 
pose on me,” said Peter John dubiously. 

“Nobody is going to impose on you. You won’t be 
doing anything more than every fellow in the class, and 
if you don’t go in you’ll be the one marked exception. 
The sophs will take it as an invitation.” 

“You think so, do you ? ” 

“ Yes, sir, I do. Come along, Peter John, and don’t 
make any more fuss about it.” 

“Well, I’ll think about it,” replied the freshman as 
he departed for his own room in Leland Hall. 

Saturday dawned bright and clear and the interest 
and excitement in the college over the parade rose to 
its highest point. A band had been secured from a 
neighboring city, and in the afternoon, when its stirring 
strains were heard from the steps of the gymnasium, all 
the freshmen were made aware that the time for their 
assembly had arrived. There were crowds of strangers 
to be seen about the streets and the little town was all 
active with unwonted bustle. Coaches and automobiles 
were arriving, the sophomores were assembling at the 
various buildings, and their jeers and cries could be heard 
as they greeted the appearance of the members of the 
class below them when they started for the gymnasium. 


84 


WINNING HIS W 


Will Phelps and Foster Bennett felt keenly the pre- 
vailing excitement, and when they entered the gymna- 
sium building they found a large number of their c n 
classmates already assembled and keenly alive to the 
demands that were soon to be made upon them. 

Under the experienced guidance of the committee of 
juniors the freshmen were soon equipped for their vari- 
ous parts and the procession was formed. In advance 
moved the brass band and behind it was a huge hay 
wagon in which in great dignity were seated six of the 
seniors. The wagon itself was drawn by sixteen fresh- 
men, all of whom had a tight grasp upon the ropes that 
had been fastened to the wagon tongue. Directly be- 
hind the wagon came Will Phelps and Foster Bennett 
and two of their classmates, all dressed in the garb of 
firemen, with red jackets and helmet hats of paper. In 
their hands was a huge rope at least two and a half 
inches in diameter, which was attached to a tiny tin 
fire engine not more than a foot in length. Behind the 
firemen came Hawley, who was dressed as an infant 
with a lace cap on his head and carefully tied bows 
under his chin, while in his hands he was carrying a 
bottle of milk. He was seated in an improvised baby 
carriage, which was being pushed by one of the smallest 
members of the freshman class. “ Carrie Nation,” 
“Sunny Jim,” “Jap and Russian,” were among the 
characters that could be seen in the long lines of fresh- 
men that, three abreast, were arranged still farther back 
in the procession, and at last, at the word of Allen, the 
junior who was acting as the marshal of the day, the 


Did you c%*er see anything 
in your life like that ? ’ ” 

Page 85. 








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THE PARADE 


85 


march was begun. Frequently Will turned and glanced 
behind him at the long, tortuous line, and its ridicu- 
lous appearance caused him to laugh and say to Foster : 

“ Did you ever see anything in your life like that ? ” 

“ I never did.” 

“ Silence there in the ranks ! ” called Allen sharply, 
for he chanced to be marching near the “ fire engine.” 
Not a trace of a smile could be seen on his face, and to 
all appearances he was engaged in what he considered 
one of the most serious events of his life. 

In the streets the people were lined up and their 
laughter and good-natured applause could be heard on 
every side. Small boys followed the line of march or 
walked beside the long column, and their derisive re- 
marks were frequent and loud. The sophomores also 
added their comments, but there was no open disturb- 
ance throughout the march. It was one of the events 
of freshman year and as such was evidently fo be 
entered upon lightly or unadvisedly, like cerL , other 
important epochs in life. 

At last the procession arrived at the athletic field 
and there broke up for the baseball game with the sopho- 
mores. The grand stand was already filled with the 
people and students that had watched the march, and, 
as soon as Will and Foster had donned their baseball 
suits, for both had been selected to play on the freshman 
nine, they appeared upon the field, where already the 
other members of the team were awaiting their coming. 

“I didn’t see Peter John, did you, Foster?” in- 
quired Will. 


86 


WINNING HIS 


No. It’ll be all the worse for him, I fancy.” 

“No doubt about that. What are we going to do 
with him, Foster?” 

“Nothing.” 

“ I don’t like to see the chap suffer for his own fool- 
ishness. ’ ’ 

“ Neither do I. But he’ll have to learn for himself. 
You can’t tell him anything.” 

“ You can tell him all right enough, but I’m afraid 
that’s all the good it does. You might as well try to 
polish sponge.” 

The conversation ceased as the call for the game to 
be begun was heard and both boys hastened to take the 
positions in which they were to play. The noise among 
the spectators increased as the signal was given, but for 
three innings both nines played earnestly and seriously. 
At the end of the third inning, with the score standing 
five to four in favor of the sophomores, a radical change 
was made. The batter was blindfolded and compelled 
to stand upon an upturned barrel, which was substituted 
for the home plate. The pitcher and catcher were each 
also to stand upon a barrel and the pitcher was ordered 
to throw the ball with his left hand. Naturally it was 
impossible for the batter to hit the ball, since he was 
blindfolded, and when three strikes had been called he 
tore the bandage from his eyes and upon his hands and 
knees was compelled to crawl toward first base. The 
baseman stood with his back to the field and naturally 
found it difiicult to secure the ball which had been thrown 
by the left hand of the catcher. Shrieks of laughter 


THE PARADE 


87 


arose from the spectators, shouts and class cries were 
heard on every side, tin horns mingled their noise with 
the blasts of the brass band, and altogether Will Phelps 
thought that the scene was unique in the experiences of 
his young life. 


CHAPTER IX 


THE WALK WITH MOTT 

I X the days that immediately followed the freshman 
parade and the burlesque game of baseball with the 
rival class, the work before Will Phelps and his room- 
mate settled more deeply into its regular grooves. The 
novelty of the new life was now gone and to Will it 
almost seemed that ages had passed since he had been a 
member of the household in Sterling. His vision of the 
hilltops from his bedroom window became longer and 
he could see in his mind far behind the towering bar- 
riers of the hills into the familiar street and well-remem- 
bered rooms of his father’s house. The foliage on the 
hillsides now had assumed its gorgeous autumn dress 
and wherever he looked the forests seemed to be clad 
as if they were all on dress parade. The sight was 
beautiful and one which in after years was ever pres- 
ent with him ; but in those early days of his freshman 
year in Winthrop, it seemed somehow to impress him 
as a great barrier between his home and the place where 
he then was. 

However, he never referred to his feeling to any one, 
not even to Foster, and strove manfully to bear it all. 
He was working well, but in his Greek he was finding 
increasing difficulty. This he acknowledged in part 


THE WALK WITH MOTT 


89 


was due to his own neglect in the earlier years of his 
preparatory course, but boy -like he attributed most of 
his lack of success in that department to 
for whom he came to cherish a steadily incfeasing^*"^^^ 
like. The man’s personality was exceedingly irritating 
to the young freshman and his dislike for the professor 
was becoming intense — a marked contrast to his feeling 
for his teacher in mathematics for whom he entertained 
a regard that was but little short of adoration. His 
knowledge evidently was so great, and his inspiring per- 
sonality in the classroom was so enjoyable that Will 
soon found himself working in that department as he 
never before had worked in his brief^^S^ Already the 
boys were referring to him as a “ shark, ’ ’ and the 
praise of his classmates was sweet. But in Greek — 
that was an altogether different affair, he declared. 
Splinter was so cold-blooded, so unsympathetic, and 
sarcastic, he appeared to be so fond of “letting a fellow 
make a fool of himself in recitation,” as Will expressed 
it, that he found but little pleasure in his work. And 
Will had already suffered from the keen shafts of the 
teacher’s merciless ridicule. One day, when in fact he 
had spent an additional hour in the preparation of his 
lesson in Greek, though the results he had achieved left 
him still troubled as he thought of the recitation, he 
had been called upon to translate and make comments 
upon a portion of the lesson of the day. He could feel 
as well as see, or at least he fancied that he saw, the 
drawing down of Splinter’s lips that presaged an out- 
burst of sarcasm. Will had been permitted to go 


90 


WINNING HIS 


V 

through his task without interruption and then the pro- 
fessor had said dryly, “ That will do, Mr. Phelps. That 
is what one might term ‘ making Greek ’ of it. It cer- 
tainly is justice neither to the Greek nor to the Eng- 
lish.’’ A partly suppressed titter had run through the 
class at the biting words, and with face flushed scarlet 
Will Phelps had resumed his seat, feeling that in all 
the world there could not be found another man so 
thoroughly despicable as Splinter. And his feeling of 
dislike had increased with the passing days. He had 
come not only to detest the man, but the Greek as well. 
If he could have followed his own desire he would have 
abandoned the subject at once and substituted some- 
thing in its place, but Will understood fully his father’s 
desire for him to become proficient in that department 
and how useless it would be for him to write home for 
the desired permission. In sheer desperation he began 
to devote additional time to his study of Greek, until 
he felt that he was almost neglecting certain other 
studies in his course that in themselves were far more 
enjoyable. But his progress under Splinter seemed to 
be in no wise advanced, and soon Will was cherishing 
a feeling that was something between a hopeless rage 
and an ungovernable detestation. 

One break had occurred, however, in that both he 
and Foster had joined one of the Greek letter fraterni- 
ties — the Phi Alpha. Both freshmen were now taking 
their meals at the fraternity house and in the good fel- 
lowship and the presence of his fellow-members he 
found a measure of relief from the homesickness that 


THE WALK WITH MOTT 


91 


was troubling him and his difficulties with the detested 
professor of Greek. It was also a source of some com- 
fort to him to learn that his own feeling for Splinter 
was one that was commonly held by all the students who 
had been under him ; but though his misery may have 
loved the company, his problem still remained his own 
and appeared to be as far from solution as ever. 

Not long after Will and Foster had joined the Phi 
Alpha fraternity, Peter John had dropped into their 
room one evening and quickly discovered the neat little 
badge or pin that each boy wore on his vest directly 
over his heart. 

“ Hello ! ” exclaimed Peter John ; “ you’ve joined 
the Phi Alpha, have you ? ’ ’ 

“Yes,” replied Will quietly, striving then to change 
the topic of conversation, for the subject was one not to 
be cheapened by ordinary remarks. 

“It’s about the best in college, isn’t it?” persisted 
Peter John. 

“ That’s not for us to say,” laughed Will. 

“I haven’t joined any fraternity yet,” said Peter 
John. “My father told me I’d better wait and per- 
haps he’d come up to Winthrop a little later and then 
he’d tell me which one to join.” 

Will and Foster glanced at each other, but neither 
spoke. In fact there was nothing to say. 

“ If you feel sure the Phi Alpha’s the best, I might 
write home to my father and perhaps he’d let me join 
now,” suggested Peter John. “ He thinks that what- 
ever you two fellows do is about right.” 


92 


WINNING HIS 

As only about half the students in Winthrop were 
members of the Greek letter fraternities, and as those 
who were elected were chosen because of certain elements 
in their characters or lives that made them especially 
desirable as companions or comrades, the election was 
naturally looked upon as an especial honor and many 
of the entering class had been eagerly awaiting the in- 
vitation for which all longed. Peter John Schenck’s 
unique personality and his sublime self-assurance had 
been qualities, if no other defects had been apparent, 
that would have debarred him, but he was so sublimely 
unconscious of all this — Not even knowing enough to 
know that l)e didn’t know, the worst form of ignorance 
in all the world,” Foster had half angrily declared — 
that not for a moment did he dream that his member- 
ship was something perhaps undesirable of itself. 

“ I might write home and ask him,” suggested Peter 
John when neither of his classmates responded. ‘‘I 
think I like the Phi Alphas pretty well myself. ’ ’ 

“I wouldn’t do it,” said Foster. “How are you 
making out with Splinter?” he added, striving to 
change the subject. 

“ Oh, Splinter’s all right.” 

“ Glad you think so,” said Will bitterly. 

“Some of the fellows think he’s hard, but he’s all 
right if you know how to handle him,” declared Peter 
John pompously. “I’ll put down a good mark for 
him.” 

“Good for you, Peter John!” laughed Foster. 
“Wait till he puts down your mark.” 


THE WALK WITH MOTT 


93 


“ I’ll get an ‘ A ’ in Greek.” 

” I hope you’ll give me a part of it then,” said Will. 
“ Did you ever see such a fellow ? ” he said to Foster 
when their visitor had departed. 

“ I never did. I don’t mind him myself, but for his 
own sake I wish he could learn something. I don’t be- 
lieve he’ll ever do it though.” 

“ I’m afraid he’ll be taught some things that are not 
in the course of study.” 

‘ ‘ Do him good, ’ ’ remarked Foster, as he turned once 
more to his work. 

The following day was Saturday, and in the afternoon 
there were no recitations. Will had promised Mott that 
he would go for a long walk with him, and promptly 
after luncheon the sophomore appeared. For some 
reason which Will could not explain, Mott appeared to 
have taken a decided fancy to him, and had paid him 
many special attentions. There was little about him 
that was attractive to Will, but somehow he found it 
difficult to avoid him. He certainly was a well dressed, 
handsome young fellow, and was prominent in college 
chiefly because of his success in athletics, for already 
he had the reputation of being one of the swiftest run- 
ners in college. But in the college vernacular he was 
commonly referred to as a sport,” a term for which 
Will instinctively had little liking, and less for the 
young man himself. However, he had found it diffi- 
cult to avoid him, and somew'hat reluctantly he had 
consented to take the long walk to a distant village with 
him on the day to which reference has been made. 


94 


WINNING HIS 

For a time after the two young men had departed 
from Winthrop, and had made their way up the road 
that led along the steep hillside, the exhilaration of the 
bracing air and the superb view had made Will keenly 
alive to the beauties of the surrounding region. A soft 
halo covered the summits of the lofty hills, and the 
quiet of the valley was almost as impressive as the 
framework of the mountains. Mott too had been ex- 
ceedingly pleasant in all that he had said, and Will was 
almost beginning to feel that he had misjudged his com- 
panion, and that his reputation was wors6 than the fel- 
low himself. 

They had now left the hillside road and were once 
more in the valley and not far from the village they 
were seeking. 

“I hear you’re quite a fair sprinter,” suggested 
Mott, as they proceeded. 

“I do a little,” assented Will, laughing lightly as 
he spoke. 

“ Where did you run ? ” 

“ On the high school team.” 

“ What high school ? ” 

“ Sterling.” 

“ Run against the other schools in the league ? ” 

“Yes,” replied Will, wondering how it was that 
Mott happened to know of the existence of the league. 

“ How did you come out ? ” 

“ Oh, I happened to win. There wasn’t very much 
to run against, you see.” 

“ What time did you make ? ” 


THE WALK WITH MOTT 


95 


“ Ten, two.” 

“ Going to rnn here ? ” 

“ Going to try to.” 

I find this taking long walks is good for me,” said 
Mott. “ It keeps my muscles in trim and gives me 
wind.” 

This, then, was the object which Mott had in view in 
inviting him to take the walk. Will hastily concluded. 
He wanted to find out all he could learn about his 
ability as a runner, and in spite of himself Will was 
flattered by the evident interest and attention. They 
were now within the confines of the village, and excus- 
ing himself for a moment Mott left Will, but when he 
returned it was evident from the odor about him that 
the sophomore had been to some saloon. Will had 
known of Mott’s habits, and the fact that he had left 
him and gone alone to secure his drink argued that the 
fellow was not altogether bad. 

There was not a long delay in the village, and the 
return by a diflTerent road from that by which they had 
come was suggested by Mott, and Will had acquiesced. 
They had not gone far, however, before Mott discovered 
a farmer approaching with a team and a heavy but 
empty farm wagon, and quickly suggested that they 
should ride, and as Will at once agreed, his companion 
hailed the passing man. 

“Hi, grandpa ! Will you give us a ride ? ” he called. 

Without a word the farmer, who was an old man, 
halted his team and permitted the boys to clamber up 
into the wagon. 


96 


WINNING HIS 

‘ ‘ This is more like it, ’ ’ said Mott, forgetful of the 
benefits of walking, as the horses started. 

“ It’s not half bad,” replied Will, as he glanced at 
the old man who was driving. A straw hat covered 
his gray head, and his untrimmed gray beard as well 
as his somewhat rough clothing could not entirely de- 
tract from the keen twinkle in his eyes. 

“ I fancy,” said Mott, addressing the driver, “ that 
the beauties of this country have added much to your 
longevity ? ’ ’ 

My which ? ” demanded the farmer sharply. 

‘‘ Your longevity.” 

“ I never had no such complaint ’s that. I’ve had the 
rheumatiz, but that’s all that ever bothered me any.” 

“You are to be congratulated,” murmured Mott. 

“Guess that’s so. See that buryin’ ground over 
there ? ’ ’ inquired the driver, pointing as he spoke to a 
quaint little cemetery by the roadside. 

“Yes,” replied Mott. “ Probably most of the peo- 
ple died of longevity. ’ ’ 

“It don’t tell on th’ gravestones. Jest got a new 
gravedigger.” 

“ How’s that ? ” 

“ Third we’ve had inside o’ a year. Had one fur 
nigh onto forty year, but he up an’ died.” 

“ Longevity ? ” gravely inquired Mott. 

“Like enough; though some folks thought ’twas 
softenin’ o’ th’ brain ; but my ’pinion is he never had 
any brains to get soft. Still he were a good digger, but 
the man we got next was no good.” 


THE WALK WITH MOTT 


97 


‘ ‘ What was the trouble with him ? More longevity ? ’ ’ 

“ No ; he buried everybody with their feet to the 
west/’ 

“ Isn’t that the proper thing ? ” 

‘‘No, ’tisn’t !” 

“Why?” 

“ Any fool knows ye ought t’ be buried with yer feet 
t’ the east.” 

“ Why’s that ? ” 

“ So’t ye can hear Gabriel’s trumpet better when he 
blows, an’ can rise right up facin’ him an’ be all ready 
t’ go when he calls.” 

“I hadn’t thought of that.” 

“ Like ’s not. Some folks don’t. We’ve got an- 
other digger now, an’ he knows.” 

For a time conversation ceased, and the farmer drove 
briskly along the country road. When an hour had 
elapsed, Mott said, ‘ ‘ I don’ t see that we’ re getting 
anywhere near Winthrop.” 

‘ ‘ Winthrop ? Is that where ye want t’ go ? Students 
there, maybe ? ” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, we’ve been goin’ straight away from Win- 
throp all the time. Ye didn’t say nothin’ ’bout it, an’ 
I didn’t feel called upon t’ explain, for I supposed col- 
lege students knew everything. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ How far is it to Winthrop ? ’ ’ inquired Will blankly. 

“ ’Beout ten mile,” responded the farmer, his eyes 
twinkling as he reined in his team. 


G 


CHAPTEK X 


A VISITOR 

T he boys both hastily leaped to the ground and the 
old farmer quickly spoke to his team and started 
on, leaving his recent passengers in such a frame of 
mind that they even forgot to thank him for his cour- 
tesy and kindness. As the wagon drove off, Will fan- 
cied that he heard a sly chuckle from the driver but he 
had disappeared around the bend in the road before the 
young freshman recovered from his astonishment suf- 
ficiently to speak of it. 

“That old chap wasn’t such a fool after all,” said 
Mott glumly. 

“That’s what he wasn’t,” responded Will beginning 
to laugh. 

“What are you laughing at?” demanded Mott 
sharply. 

“ At ourselves.” 

“ I don’t see the joke.” 

“Might as well laugh as cry.” 

“You’ll sing another song before you’re back in 
Winthrop to-night. Ten miles isn’t any laughing mat- 
ter after we’ve tramped as far as we have to-day. ” 

“ But it’ll help us for our track meet,” suggested 
Will, laughing again. 


A VISITOR 


99 


‘ ‘ Bother the track meet ! ’ ’ 

“It’ll help our longevity then. I’ve always heard 
that walking was the best exercise.” 

“ The old fellow was foxy. He never said a word 
but just let us talk on. I’d give a dollar to hear his 
account of it when he gets home.” 

“Cheap enough. But say, Mott, have we got to 
tramp all the way back to Winthrop? ” 

“ Looks that way.” 

“ Can’t we get a carriage here somewhere ? 

“ Hardly. We might try it at that farmhouse over 
yonder,” replied Mott pointing toward a low house not 
far away as he spoke. 

“Come ahead! Let’s try it anyway,” suggested 
Will eagerly. 

The boys at once hastened to the place, and after a 
brief delay succeeded in summoning the young farmer 
who lived there. They made their wishes known, but 
in response the man said, “ Can’t do it anyhow. My 
wife’s sick and I’m goin’ for the doctor now.” 

“ Where is he ? ” demanded Will eagerly. 

“ Over at the Junction.” 

Will knew where the Junction was, a little hamlet 
about seven miles from Winthrop. How far it was distant 
from the place where he then was, however, he had no 
idea. It was easy to ascertain, and in response to his ques- 
tion the farmer explained that it was ‘ ^ about three mile. ’ * 

“You might take us there, then,” said Will quickly. 
“ I don’t know just how the trains run for Winthrop, 
but it’ll be three miles nearer anyway.” 


LofC. 


100 


WINNING HIS ^^W 


“Yes, I’ll be glad to take you there. Just wait till 
I hitch up.” 

“ How much are you going to charge us ? ” demanded 
Mott who did not plan to be caught again by the 
“guilelessness” of any of the people of the region. 

“ Oh, I sha’n’t charge ye anything. Glad t’ do ye 
the favor, ’ ’ responded the farmer heartily. 

In a brief time his team was ready, and, acting upon 
his suggestion, the boys at once took their places on the 
seat, and the driver, seated between them, soon was 
briskly speeding down the roadway. 

Conversation lagged, for the boys were somewhat 
wearied by their long tramp and the young farmer Was 
silent, doubtless anxious over the illness in his home. 
When three-quarters of an hour had elaped he depos- 
ited the boys on the platform of the little station at the 
Junction, and again declining any offer on their part to 
pay for the service he had rendered them at once de- 
parted in his search for the physician. 

Approaching the little window in the ticket office 
Mott inquired, “What’s the next train we can get for 
Winthrop?” 

“ No more trains to-night,” responded the man with- 
out looking up from the noisy clicker over which he 
was bending. 

“ No more trains? ” 

“That’s what I said. The last one passed here fif- 
teen minutes ago.” 

“Isn’t there any way we can get there ? ” 

“ I s’ pose there is.” 


A VISITOR 


101 


‘ ‘ What is it ? ” demanded Mott eagerly. 

“Walk.” 

“How far is it?” 

“Seven miles.” 

“ And there’s no other way ? ’ ’ 

“You won’t be the first that have counted the ties 
between Junction and Winthrop.” 

“ Isn’t there a freight train that comes along pretty 
soon ? ’ ’ inquired Will. 

“ There’s one that’s due in ’bout an hour. But you 
never can depend on it. It may be here in an hour 
and it may be three hours. You never can tell.” 

“What shall we do, Phelps?” inquired Mott, turn- 
ing sharply to his companion. 

“ I don’t care much, but I believe it would be better 
for us to start. It isn’t so very far and besides it’ll be 
good for our longevity and help us for the meet.” 

There was an exclamation of anger from Mott who 
doubtless had become somewhat sensitive to the fre- 
quent references to his favorite expression of the day, 
but he made no protest and the two boys at once started 
up the track. Both were hungry and weary but the 
distance must be traversed, and there was no time or 
breath to waste in complaining. Steadily they trudged 
onward, the monotony of the walk increased by the 
deepening darkness. They had been gone from the 
station only about an hour when the shrill screech of 
the whistle from a locomotive approaching from behind 
them was heard, and in a few minutes the long and 
noisy freight train thundered past them. 


102 WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

Mott was almost beside himself with rage as he 
watched the passing cars and heaped all manner of 
maledictions upon the head of the station agent, who, 
he declared, must have known the train was coming, 
and with malice aforethought had withheld his knowl- 
edge and advised the boys to walk. ‘ ‘ Everybody was 
against the college boys,” he declared, “and looked 
upon it as legitimate to take advantage of them in every 
possible manner.” But Will only laughed in response 
and made no protests though he was as thoroughly 
wearied as his companion. 

At last the lights of the college could be seen and 
shortly after ten o’clock they arrived at their dormi- 
tory. “We’ll remember this walk, I take it,” said 
Mott glumly as he turned toward his room. 

“We certainly shall,” replied AVill. “The ‘lon- 
gevity’ of that old farmer was something wonderful.” 

“ Bother his longevity ! ” exclaimed Mott as he turned 
quickly away. - 

Left to himself Will slowly climbed the stairs until 
he arrived at his own room, but as he was about to 
enter he suddenly stopped and listened intently to the 
sound of voices within. Surely he knew that voice, he 
thought, and in an instant opened the door and burst 
into the room. 

Seated in the easy -chair was his father. Instantly 
Will’s weariness was forgotten and with a shout he 
rushed upon his visitor throwing his arm about his 
neck and laughing in a way that may have served to 
keep down a stronger emotion. 


i» r 


A 


I * 


:» 




« 




■ 



-\ 



r 




• y 





“ For an hour Mr. Phelps remained in the 
room listening to the tales of the boys.’^ 

Page 103. 


A VISITOR 


103 


‘‘How loDg have you been here?’^ he demanded. 
“Where’s mother? When did you come? How’s 
everybody at home ? Anything wrong ? My, but I’m 
glad to see you ! How long are you going to stay ? ’ ’ 

The questions and exclamations fell from Will’s lips 
in such confusion that it was impossible to reply and 
even Foster who was in the room joined in the laugh 
with which his room-mate’s excitement was greeted. 

“Not too fast, Will,” laughed his father. “I had 
to come near here on business and I thought it would 
be a good thing to stop at Winthrop over night and 
have a little visit with my boy. I didn’t know that I 
should be able to have one,” he added smilingly, “for 
he wasn’t anywhere to be found.” 

“I’m sorry ! I wish I’d known it. I’ve been out 
for a walk with Mott. And we certainly have had 
one ! ” he added as he recounted some of the experi- 
ences of the afternoon. 

His recital was greeted with laughter and even Will 
himself could enjoy it now that it was all past and he 
was once more safe in his room. For an hour Mr. 
Phelps remained in the room listening to the tales of 
the boys of their new life in the college, laughing as 
he heard of their pranks, and deeply interested in all 
they had to relate. At last when he arose to go to 
his room in the village hotel, he promised to come and 
attend church in the morning with the boys and then 
explained that he would have two hours to spend with 
Will on the morning following as his train did not 
leave until half-past ten. 


104 


WINNING HIS 


“ But I have a recitation the first hour,” said Will 
blaukly. “I’ll ‘ cut’ it, though, for it isn’t every day 
one has his daddy with him, and I wouldn’t lose a 
minute of your time here, pop, for ten hours with old 
Splinter. I have Greek, you know, the first hour in the 
morning. Oh, I’ ve got ‘ cuts ’ to burn, ’ ’ he added hastily 
as an unspoken protest appeared in the expression on his 
father’s face. “ You needn’t worry about that.” 

“ I don’t want you to lose any recitation because I 
am here,” said his father quietly. “ I sha’n’t want to 
come again if my coming interferes with your work, 
and as it is I have serious doubts ” 

“All right, pop,” replied Will patting his father 
afiectionately on the shoulder. “I’ll go to Splinter’s 
class, though I know he’ll ‘ go for ’ me too. I won’t 
do a thing that’ll ever keep you from showing up here 
in Winthrop again.” 

On Monday morning after the exercises in the chapel, 
Mr. Phelps went to Will’s room and waited till the 
hour should pass and the eager -hearted boy should 
return. As the great clock in the tower rang out the 
hour he arose and stood in front of the window peer- 
ing out across the campus at the building where AYill 
was at work, but the stroke had scarcely ceased before 
he beheld the lad run swiftly down the steps and speed 
along the pathway toward his room as if he were run- 
ning for a prize. The expression in the man’s eyes was 
soft and there was also a suspicious moisture in them as 
well as he watched his boy. Was it only a dream or 
reality ? Only a few short years ago and he had been 


A VISITOR 


105 


an eager-hearted boy speeding over the same pathway 
(he smiled as he thought how the “ speed” was never 
displayed on his way to the recitation building), and 
now it was his own boy who was sharing in the life of 
old Winthrop and doubtless he himself was in the 
minds of the young students relegated to that remote 
and distant period when the “old grads” were sup- 
posed to be young. Doubtless to them it was a time 
as remote as that when Homer’s heroes contended in 
battle or the fauns and satyrs peopled the wooded hills 
and plains. And yet how vital it all was to him. 
He watched the groups of students moving across the 
campus, and as the sound of their shouts or laughter 
or the words of some song rose on the autumn air, it 
seemed to the man that he needed only to close his eyes 
and the old life would return — a life so like the present 
that it did not seem possible that a great gulf of thirty 
years lay between. 

Mr. Phelps’ meditations were interrupted by the 
entrance of Will, who burst into the room with the 
force of a small whirlwind. 

“ Here I am, pop ! ” he exclaimed as he tossed his 
books upon his couch and threw his cap to the opposite 
side of the room. “ Old Splinter stuck me good this 
morning, but I can stand it as long as you are here.” 

“Who is Splinter? ” 

“ Why, don’t you know? I thought everybody knew 
Splinter. He’s our professor of Greek and the biggest 
fraud in the whole faculty.” 

“ What’s the troulile with him ? ” Mr. Phelps spoke 


106 


WINNING HIS 

quietly but there was something in his voice that be- 
trayed a deeper feeling and one that Will was quick to 
perceive and that gave him a twinge of uneasiness as well. 

“ Oh, he’s hard as nails. He must have ‘ ichor ’ in 
his veins, not blood. I don’t believe he ever was a 
boy. He must have been like Pallas Athense. Wasn’t 
she the lady that sprang full-fledged from the brain of 
Zeus? Well, I’ve a notion that Splinter yelled in 
Greek when he was a baby. That is, if he ever was an 
infant, and called for his bottle in dactylic hexameter. 
Oh, I know lots about Greek, pop,” laughed Will as 
his father smiled. “ I know the alphabet and a whole 
lot of things even if Splinter thinks I don’t.” 

“Doesn’t he think you know much about your 
Greek ? ’ ’ 

“ Well, he doesn’t seem to be overburdened with the 
weight of his opinion of me. He just looks upon me, 
I’m afraid, as if I was not a bright and shining light. 
‘Learn Greek or grow up in ignorance,’ that’s the 
burden of his song, and I’ve sometimes thought that 
about all the fun he has in life is flunking freshmen.” 

“ How about the freshmen ? ” 

“You mean me? Honestly, pop, I haven’t done very 
well in my Greek ; but I don’t think it’s all my fault. 
I’ve worked on it as I haven’t worked on anything else 
in college. I’ve done my part, but Splinter doesn’t seem 
to believe it. What am I going to do about it? ” 

Will in spite of his light-hearted ways, was seriously 
troubled and his father was silent for a brief time be- 
fore he responded to the boy’s question. 


CHAPTEE XI 


THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM 

“ T WAS aware that you were having trouble with 
X your Greek,” said Mr. Phelps quietly, “and 
that was one of my reasons for stopping over here.” 
“You were? How did you know ? ” 

“ I had received word from the secretary of the fac- 
ulty. He sent me a formal note announcing that your 
work was so low that it was more than probable you 
would fail in your midyear examination.” 

For a moment Will Phelps was silent. His face be- 
came colorless and his heart seemed almost to rise in 
his throat. Fail in his midyear’s? A “warning” 
sent home to his father ? To the inexperienced young 
student it seemed for a ihoment as if he was disgraced 
in the eyes of all his friends. He knew that his work 
had been of a low grade, but never for a moment had 
he considered it as being at all serious. So many of 
his newly formed friends in the college had been speak- 
ing of their conditions and low grades as a matter of 
course and had referred to them laughingly, much as if 
they were good jokes to be enjoyed that Will too had 
come almost to feel that his own trouble was not a seri- 
ous one. And Splinter was the one to be blamed for 
the most of it, he was convinced. The words of his 

107 


108 


WINNING HIS ‘MV 


V 

father, however, had presented the matter in an en- 
tirely different light, and his trouble was vastly in- 
creased by its evident effect upon him. Will’s face 
was drawn and there was an expression of suffering 
upon it as he glanced again at his father and said : 

‘ ‘ What shall I do ? Will it drop me out of college ? ’ ’ 
“I think not necessarily. You must pass off more 
than half your hours to enable you to keep on with your 
class ; but failure in one study will not bring that of 
itself, for your Greek is a four-hour course. But the 
matter is, of course, somewhat serious and in more 
ways than one.” 

“ Yes, I know it,” replied Will despondently. 
“Well, if you know it, that’s half the battle won 
already. The greatest trouble with most unsuccessful 
men is that they have never learned what their own 
weaknesses and limitations are. But you say you 
know, and I wish you’d tell me what you think the 
chief difficulty is. ’ ’ 

“My Greek,” said Will, trying to smile. 

“But what’s the trouble with the Greek ? ” 

“ The trouble is that the Greek troubles me. I sup- 
pose the Greek is all right and I’m all wrong.” 

^ ‘ In what way ? ’ ’ 

“ I don’t know it as I ought to.” 

“ Is that ‘ Splinter’s ’ fault ? ” 

“ No, it’s mine. You know how hard I worked in 
the closing half of my last year in the high school, but 
that didn’t, and I suppose couldn’t, make up for what 
I hadn’t done before.” 


r 


THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM 


109 


‘ ‘ Are you working hard now ? ’ ’ 

“ On iny Greek ? ” 

“Yes.” 

“ I’m putting more time on that than on everything 
else. ’ ’ 

“ I didn’t ask you about the ‘ time,’ but about the 
work.” 

“Why, yes. I don’t just see what you mean. I 
spend three hours on my Greek every day we have it. ’ ’ 

“It’s one thing to ‘ spend the time ’ and another to 
work. Some men will accomplish more in an hour 
than others will in three.” 

“I do my best,” said Will gloomily. He felt al- 
most as if his father was unfair with him and was dis- 
posed to question what he had said. 

“ Now, Will,” said Mr. Phelps quietly, but in a tone 
of voice which his boy clearly understood, “ it would 
be an easy thing for me to smooth over this matter and 
make light of it, but my love and interest in you are 
too strong to permit me to think of that for a moment. 
I believe in you, my boy, but there are some things in 
which I cannot aid you, some things which you must 
learn and do for yourself. Last year you faced your 
crisis as a man should, and I believe you will face this 
one too. ’ ’ 

“It seems as if there was always something to be 
faced.” 

“There is. That’s it, exactly. My boy. Splinter, 
as you call your professor in Greek, is not limited to 
the faculty of Winthrop College. In one form or an- 


110 


WINKING HIS W 


other he presents himself all through your life. His 
name is simply that of the perpetual problem.” 

“ I don’t see, then ” interrupted Will. 

‘^No, you don’t see ; but it is just because I do, and 
I am your father, that I am talking in this way. Why 
do you think I have sent you to college ? It isn’t for 
the name of it, or for the fun you will get out of it, or 
even for the friendships you will form here, though 
every one of these things is good in itself. It is to have 
you so trained, or rather for you so to train yourself, 
that when you go out from Winthrop you will be able to 
meet the very problems of which I am speaking and 
master them. They come to all, and the great differ- 
ence in men is really in their ability to solve these very 
things. I think it is Emerson who says, ‘ It is as easy 
for a large man to do large things as it is for a small 
.^an to do small things.’ And that is what I want for 
you, my boy, the ability to do the greater things.” 

“But I’ll never use Greek any. I wish I could 
take some other study in its place.” 

“Just now it is not a question of Greek or something 
in its place. It is a question of facing and overcoming 
a difficulty or permitting it to overcome you. You 
must decide whether you will be a victor or a victim. 
There are just three things a man can do when he 
finds himself compelled to meet one of these difficult 
things that in one form or another come to everybody. 
He can turn and run from it, but that’s the part of a 
coward. He can get around it, evade it somehow, but 
that’s the part of the timid and palterer, and sooner or 


THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM 


111 


later the superficial man is found out. Then there is 
the best way, which is to meet and master it. Every- 
body has to decide which he will do, but do one of the 
three he must, and there is no escape.” 

“You think I ought to hit it between the eyes ? ” 
“Yes, though I should not put it in quite that way,” 
said his father with a smile. 

“I’d like to smash it ! I don’t like it ! I’ll never 
make a Greek scholar, and I detest Splinter. He’s as 
dry as a bone or a Greek root ! He hasn’t any more 
juice than a piece of boiled basswood ! ” 

“ That does not alter the matter. It won’t change, 
and you’ve got to choose in which of the three ways I 
have suggested you will meet it.” 

“ I suppose that’s so,” said Will quietly. “ But it 
doesn’t make it any easier.” 

“Not a bit.” 

“ I know what you would say. ” 

“ Then it isn’t necessary for me to say another 
word. There’s one thing I am thankful for. Will, 
and that is that you and I are such good friends that 
we can talk this trouble all over together. The dean 

was telling me this morning ’ ’ 

“Have you seen the dean?” interrupted Will 
quickly. ‘ ‘ What did he say ? ” 

“The dean was telling me,” resumed Mr. Phelps 
smiling and ignoring the interruption, “ that he sees so 
many of what might be termed the tragical elements of 
college life, that he sometimes feels as if he could not 
retain his position another day. Fathers and mothers 


112 


WINNING HIS 




broken-hearted, boys discouraged or worse, but the 
most tragical experience of all, he says, is to try to 
deal with fathers who have no special interest in their 
boys, and between whom there is no confidence. 
Whatever troubles may come to us. Will, I am thank- 
ful that that at least will not be one of them.” 

As he spoke Mr. Phelps arose, for the carriage which 
was to convey him to the station could now be seen 
approaching and the time of his departure had arrived. 
His good-bye was hastily spoken for he knew how hard it 
would be for Will to be left behind, and in a brief time 
he had taken his seat in the coach. He saw Will as he 
hastily ran back to his room and then he could see him 
as he stood by the window in his room watching the 
departing carriage as long as it could be seen. He 
gave no signal to show that he saw his boy, but his 
own eyes were wet as he was carried swiftly down the 
street, as he thought of the predicament in which Will 
was and how the testing-time had come again. But 
the young student must be left to fight out his battle 
alone. To save him from the struggle would be to 
save him from the strength. If it were only possible 
for a father to save his boy by assumiug his burden, 
how thankful he would be, was Mr. Phelps’ reflec- 
tion, but he was too wise a man and too good a father 
to flinch or falter now, and, though his heart was 
heavy, he resolutely kept on his way leaving Will to 
fight his own battle, and hoping that the issue would 
be as he most fervently desired. 

Left to himself, for a moment Will was almost de- 


THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM 


113 


spondent. The departure of his father seemed to leave 
the loneliness intensified, but he was recalled as he 
heard some one run up the stairway and rush into the 
room. His visitor was Mott, and perhaps the sopho- 
more almost instinctively felt that his presence was not 
welcome, for he said : 

“Governor gone, Phelps? Hope he left a good- 
sized check with you ! I’ve come over to be the first 
to help you get rid of it.” 

“ What’s the trouble ? ” inquired Will quietly, glan- 
cing up as he spoke. ‘ ‘ Your money all gone ? Want 
to borrow some ? ’ ’ 

“I’m always ready for that,” laughed Mott, 
“ though I’ll have to own up that I’ve got a few cents 
on hand yet. No, I don’t know that I want to borrow 
any ; but I thought you might want a little help in 
getting rid of that check, and I’d just run over to 
oblige you. Just pure missionary work, you see.” 
Mott seated himself in the large easy-chair and en- 
deavored to appear at his ease, though to Will it still 
seemed as if there was something which still troubled 
his visitor. 

“I haven’t any special check.” 

“That’s all right. My ‘ old man ’ never has been 
up to see me since I entered Winthrop, but as I look 
around at the fellows whose fathers and mothers have 
been up, I’ve noticed that they’re usually pretty flush 
right after the old gentleman departs. ’ ’ 

“ Hasn’t your mother ever been up ? ” inquired Will 
in surprise. 


II 


114 


WINNING HIS ^^W’^ 

‘‘No. Why should she? She hasn’t any time to 
bother with me. She’s on more than forty boards, and 
is on the ‘ go ’ all the time. She has to attend all sorts 
of ‘ mothers’ meetings ’ too, and I believe she has a lec- 
ture also, which she gives.” 

“ A lecture? ” 

“Yes. She has a lecture on ‘ The proper method 
of bringing up boys.’ How do you suppose she ever 
has any time to visit me ? ” Mott laughed as if the 
matter was one of supreme indifference to him, but Will 
fancied that he could detect a feeling of bitterness 
beneath it all. For himself, the condition described by 
the sophomore seemed to him to be incredible. His 
own relations with his father had been of the frankest 
and most friendly nature. Indeed, it never occurred 
to him in a time of trouble or perplexity that there 
was any one else to whom he so naturally could go as to 
his own father. Since he had entered Winthrop, how- 
ever, he had discovered several who were not unlike 
Mott in their feelings toward their own families ; and as 
Mott spoke he almost unconsciously found a feeling of 
sympathy arising in his heart for him. Some *of his 
apparently reckless deeds could be explained now. 

“ Mott, you must go home with me next vacation,” 
he said impulsively. 

“ That’s good of you, but it’s too far off to promise. 
Say, Phelps, what’s become of that man Friday of 
yours ? ’ ’ 

“Who’s he?” 

“ Schenck.” 


THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM 


115 


“Oh, he’s flourishing.’ 

“ He’s the freshest freshman that ever entered Win- 
throp. What do you suppose he had the nerve to say 
to me to-day ? ” 

“ I can’t imagine.” 

“Well, he told me that he thought the Alpha 
Omega was the best fraternity in college, and that he’d 
made up his mind to join it.” 

As this was the fraternity to which Mott himself be- 
longed, Will laughed as he said, “Oh, well, don’t be 
too hard with Peter John. He doesn’t know any bet- 
ter now, but he’ll learn.” 

“ That’s what he will,” replied Mott with a very 
decided shake of his head. “ I thought I’d come over 
to tell you that the sophomore-freshmen meet is to 
come off on Saturday afternoon.” 

“Not next Saturday ? ” exclaimed Will aghast. 

“ Yes, that’s the very day.” 

“ They told me it wasn’t to be for two weeks yet.” 

“ All the same it’s on Saturday. I thought I’d tell 
you, though I’m going to do my best to keep you from 
winning your numerals.” 

Mott rose and departed from the room, and when 
Foster returned he found his room-mate hard at work, 
with his Greek books spread out on the desk before him. 


CHAPTER XII 


THE MEET 

T he fact that the track meet between the two lower 
classes had been placed at an earlier date than 
that for which it had first been announced was a serious 
disappointment to Will Phelps. His success in the 
school athletics had made him quietly hopeful, if not 
confident, that he might be able to win some laurels in 
college, and he also was aware that the gold medal he 
wore upon his fob had made his own classmates expect 
great things from him. And the changed date now 
prevented him from doing any training and he must 
enter the contest without any preparation. 

Reports had come to him that Mott and Ogden, the 
two fleetest-footed sophomores, had already been work- 
ing hard, and rumors were also current that he himself 
was to be kidnapped and prevented from entering the 
games. Will had given but slight heed to any of these 
reports, but he had in his own mind decided that he 
would begin training at once for the contest, for if he 
should by any chance win then he would be the first 
member of his own class to gain the coveted privilege 
of wearing his class numerals upon his cap and sweater. 
And, not unnaturally. Will was eager to secure the 
honor. 


THE MEET 


117 


As he thought over Mott’s words he was half inclined 
to believe that the sophomore himself had been the 
cause of the unexpected change in the date of holding 
the games, and his feeling of anger and desire to win 
both became keener. There was no time, however, 
afforded in which he might make preparations for the 
meet, and he must simply do his best under existing 
circumstances. There was to be no burlesque or ‘ ‘ horse 
play ’ ’ in this contest, and the entire college would be 
on hand and interested to note the promise of the enter- 
ing class in a department of college life that appealed 
strongly to all the students. Even his new determina- 
tion to push his work in his Greek harder than ever he 
had done and his feeling of homesickness did not in 
the day that intervened between the present and the 
day of the games prevent his interest and excitement 
from increasing during the passing hours. 

Saturday afternoon finally arrived, clear and cool, 
an ideal day for the contest. When Will stepped forth 
from the dressing-room, clad in his light running suit 
and with his bath robe wrapped around him, as he 
glanced over the track he could see that a crowd was 
already assembled. The sophomores were seated in a 
body in one portion of the “ bleachers,” and their noisy 
shouts or loud class cries rose steadily on the autumn 
air. Opposite was the freshman class, but its members 
were still too unfamiliar with their surroundings and 
with one another to enable them to join in anything 
like the unison of their rivals. In the grand stand were 
numbers of the members of the families of the faculty 


118 


WINNING HIS W 


)} 

and the townspeople and visitors, and altogether the 
scene was one that strongly stirred Will and his room- 
mate, Foster Bennett, who also was to compete in the 
games. 

Suddenly a loud, derisive shout arose from the sopho- 
mores, and Will glanced quickly up to discover its 
cause. In a moment the cause was seen, when Peter 
John Schenck came running across the field toward the 
place where Will and Foster were standing beside a 
few of their classmates, who were also waiting for the 
game to begin. 

The sight of Peter John was one that caused even 
Will and Foster to smile, for their classmate was dressed 
as if he too was about to become a contestant, and this 
was something neither of them had expected. It was 
Peter John’s garb, however, which had so greatly de- 
lighted the beholders, for it was unlike anything to be 
seen upon the field — “ fearfully and wonderfully made, ” 
as Mott, who had joined them for a moment, had ex- 
pressed it. Evidently it was the result of Peter John’s 
own handiwork. His running trousers came to a place 
about halfway between his knees and ankles before they 
stopped, and were fashioned of coarse bagging or mate- 
rial very similar to it. He wore no running shoes, but 
a pair of gray woolen socks, plainly ‘ ‘ hand made, ’ ’ 
provided a substitute. His “running shirt” was a 
calico blouse which had at one time doubtless served 
him as a garment in which he had done the daily chores 
upon his father’s farm, but, as if to make matters still 
worse, a broad band of ribbon, the colors of the class. 


THE MEET 


119 


was diagonally fastened to his blouse in front, and Peter 
John’s fierce shock of bright red hair, uncut since he 
had entered Winthrop, served to set off the entire 
picture he presented. 

“Well, I guess we’ll do ’em to-day. Will,” ex- 
claimed Peter John as he approached the group of 
which his friend was a member. 

‘ ‘ I guess we will, ’ ’ remarked Mott soberly. 

“I’m going to do my prettiest,” continued Peter 
John. 

‘ ‘ If you let anybody once get ahead of you, Schenck, ’ ’ 
said Mott, “you’ll never catch him. If he sees you 
after him he’ll run for his life.” 

“ He’ll have to ! ” 

“ What are you entered for ? ” inquired Mott, glan- 
cing at his programme as he spoke. 

“ The half-mile run.” 

“ Ever do it before ? ” 

“ Once or twice.” 

“ What time did you make ? ” 

“ I don’t just recollect. ” 

‘ ‘ Never mind. You’ 11 make a new record to-day. ’ ’ 

“That’s what I want to do,” replied Peter John, 
sublimely unconscious that he was being made sport of 
by the sophomore. 

The conversation was interrupted by the call, “All 
out for the hundred -yard dash ! ” and, as Will was to 
run in the first heat, he drew off his bath robe and toss- 
ing it to Foster, turned at once for the starting-place. 
He had already been indulging in a few trials of start- 


120 


WINNING HIS 


)) 

ing, but his feeling of confidence was by no means strong 
as he glanced at those who were to be his competitors. 
There were four runners in his heat, and one of them 
was Ogden, the sophomore of whose reputation as a 
‘‘sprinter” Will already was aware. The other two 
were freshmen and therefore unknown quantities, but 
Will’s chief interest was in Ogden. He could see the 
knots of muscles in his arms and back and legs, and his 
own feeling of confidence was in nowise strengthened 
by the sight. Certainly Ogden was a muscular fellow, 
and a competitor as dangerous as he was striking in his 
appearance. 

The call, “On your marks,” was given, and Will, 
with the other three, advanced and took his place on 
the line. Every nerve in his body seemed to be tingling 
with excitement and his heart was beating furiously. 

‘ ‘ Get set ! ” called the starter, and then in a moment 
there followed the sharp report of the pistol and the 
runners were speeding down the course. Will felt that 
he had secured a good start, and but a few yards had 
been covered when he realized that he and Ogden were 
running almost side by side and had left the other two 
contestants behind them. Nor were their relative posi- 
tions changed as they sped on down the track except 
that the distance between Will and Ogden and the two 
freshmen behind them was steadily increased. Will 
was dimly aware as he drew near the line that the 
entire sophomore body had risen and was noisily calling 
to their classmate to increase his speed. There was 
silence from the seats occupied by the freshman class, 


THE MEET 


121 


but Will was hardly mindful of the lack of support. 
Glancing neither to the right nor the left, he could 
almost instinctively feel that Ogden was a few inches in 
advance of him and all his efforts were centered upon 
cutting down the intervening distance. 

As the contestants came within the last ten yards of 
the course, Will gathered himself together for one final 
burst of speed. His feet seemed scarcely to touch the 
ground as he darted forward. But Ogden was not to 
be outdone, for he too increased the pace at which he 
was running, and when they touched the line that was 
stretched across the course, the sophomore was still 
ahead by a few inches and had come in first in the heat, 
while Will was second. 

Foster was standing near to catch his room-mate, 
and as he wrapped the bath robe around him, he said : 

It’s all right, AVill ; you’re in the finals.” 

“First two taken ? ” gasped Will. 

“Yes.” 

“Hold on. Let’s hear the time,” said Will, stop- 
ping abruptly as the announcer advanced. 

“ Hundred-yards dash, first heat,” called the senior. 
“Won by number ten. Second, number fifteen. Time, 
ten and two-fifths seconds.” 

“That’s good for the heat. Will,” said Foster 
warmly. 

“ I’m not in training,” said Will despondently. 

“The others aren’t either, or at least not much. 
You had Ogden nearly winded, and when it comes to 
the finals you’ll do him up,” said Foster encouragingly. 


122 


WINNING HIS 

Will did not reply, for the call for the second heat 
was now made and he was intensely interested in watch- 
ing Mott’s performance, for his reputation in the college 
was even greater than Ogden’s. And if he himself had 
been beaten by Ogden, what chance would he have 
against Mott ? The question was not reassuring, but as 
the five men in the second heat could now be seen 
taking their positions on the line, it was for the moment 
ignored, as intensely interested he turned to watch the 
race that was about to be run. 

In a moment the pistol was fired and the five con- 
testants came speeding down the course. It was soon 
seen that Mott was leading, but only by a little, though 
he did not appear to be exerting himself strongly. 

“Easy, dead easy ! ” Will heard a sophomore near 
him remark, and as he watched Mott’s easy stride he 
heartily concurred in the opinion. 

The runners were nearing the line now, and as Mott 
drew near he almost stopped for a moment and glanced 
smilingly behind him at his contestants. Instantly his 
nearest competitor darted forward and before the sopho- 
more could recover himself he had touched the string 
and won the heat, with Mott a close second. Mott, 
however, appeared to be in nowise disconcerted and 
laughingly received the bantering words of his class- 
mates. He laughed again when the time was announced 
as ten and four-fifths seconds, and approaching the place 
where Will and Foster were standing, said : 

“You did well, freshman. Made better time than 
I did.” 


THE MEET 


123 


“I had to, if I kept anywhere near Ogden/’ 

The other events of the meet were now being run off, 
and as Peter John Schenck took his place on the line 
for the half-mile run the uproar became almost tumul- 
tuous, and when the freshman apparently took it all 
in his most serious manner and bowed gravely to the 
sophomores, evidently appropriating to himself all the 
noisy demonstrations of delight, the shouts and laughter 
redoubled. 

In a moment, however, the runners were off and 
Peter John quickly advanced to the first place, followed 
by a line of five that were well bunched together. 
There were many derisive calls and cries and Peter 
John’s work seemed to be taken as a joke by all the 
spectators, who were loud in their declarations that he 
was ‘‘making a mistake” and would “never be able 
to maintain his stride.” Around the course sped the 
runners until at last they were on the home stretch and 
still Peter John was in advance, his arms working like 
the fans of a Dutch windmill and his awkward move- 
ments becoming more awkward as the strain of the final 
part of the race came upon him. Still he was in the 
lead, however, and the derisive cries were giving place 
to shouts of approval and encouragement from his own 
classmates. 

The increasing excitement seemed to provide an 
additional spur to the awkward freshman, for his 
speed suddenly increased and he darted across the line 
far in advance of his rivals who were bunched behind 
him. Laughter was mingled with the applause that 


124 


WINNING HIS 

greeted him, and when the captain of the college track 
team advanced and extended his hand in congratula- 
tion, the genuineness of the applause that followed was 
unquestioned. 

Peter John, highly elated by his success, approached 
Will and said glibly: “There, Will, I rather guess 
that’ll add five points to our score.” 

“ I rather guess it will,” laughed his classmate cor- 
dially. He was as greatly surprised as any one that 
day, but he was too generous to begrudge any praise to 
Peter John. 

“ Now see that you do as well,” said Peter John, as 
the call for the finals in the hundred-yard dash was 
made. 

Will made no response as he advanced to take his 
place. Foster had already won the running broad jump 
and was in a fair way to win the shot-put as well. 
Peter John had been successful too, and to Will it 
seemed that he must win his race or his disappointment 
would be almost too bitter to bear. 

At the report of the pistol the contestants darted 
from the line and came speeding down the track toward 
the finish, which was near the place where the spectators 
were assembled. Vigorous, lusty, the perfection phys- 
ically of young manhood, the four runners sped on with 
the swiftness of the wind, but when they touched the 
tape it was evident that Mott was first by a small margin 
and that Ogden was second, being an almost impercep- 
tible distance in advance of Will Phelps, who had 
finished third in the race. 


CHAPTER XIII 


Wagner’s advice 

TP HE applause that greeted the winners was sounding 
JL but dimly and like some far-away shout in Will 
Phelps’ ears when he staggered into the outstretched 
arms of Hawley, who was waiting to receive his class- 
mate. Mortification, chagrin, disappointment were all 
mingled in his feelings, and it was all intensified by the 
fact that both Foster and Peter John had won their 
“ numerals ” and were now marked men in the class. 
Not that he begrudged either the honors he had won, 
but his own reputation as a sprinter had preceded his 
coming to Winthrop, and Will knew that great things 
had been expected of him. 

‘ ‘ It was a great race, Phelps, ’ ’ said Hawley, ‘ ‘ and 
you’ve added another point to our score.” 

Will could understand the attempt at consolation 
which his huge classmate was making, but it only 
served to increase the bitterness of his own defeat. 
He smiled, but made no response. He could see Peter 
John strutting about and receiving the half-bantering 
congratulations of the students, and his heart became 
still heavier. 

“Never mind, Phelps, you didn’t have any chance 
to train,” said Hawley. “ Mott and Ogden have been 

126 


126 


WINNING HIS 

down on the track every evening for the past three 
weeks.” 

“They have?” demanded Will, a ray of light ap- 
pearing for the moment. 

“Sure. And besides all that they got the date of 
the ‘meet’ changed too.” 

“ They beat me,” said Will simply. 

“Everybody expected them to. They all know 
you’re a good runner, Phelps, but they say a freshman 
never wins. Such a thing hasn’t been known for years. 
You see, a freshman is all new to it here, and I don’t 
care how good he is, he can’t do himself justice. You 
ought to hear what Wagner, the captain of the college 
track team, had to say about you.” 

“What did he say? ” inquired Will eagerly. 

“ He said you had it in you to make one of the best 
runners in college, and he’s going to keep an eye on 
you for the team too.” 

“ Did he say that? ” 

“ That’s what he did.” 

“The two-twenty hasn’t been run yet. I believe 
I’ll go in for that.” 

“ That’s the way to talk.” 

“Let me see when it comes,” said Will, turning to 
his programme as he spoke. 

“ Fifteen minutes yet,” said Hawley. “ Come into 
the dressing room, Phelps, and I’ll give you a good 
rubbing down. ’ ’ 

Will at once accompanied his friend to the dressing 
room, and when the call for the two hundred and 


WAGNER^S ADVICE 127 

twenty yards’ dash was made, he took his place on the 
line with the other competitors. There were only four, 
the same four that had run in the final heat of the 
hundred yards, the defeated contestants all having 
dropped out save one. 

When the pistol was fired and the racers had started. 
Will was at once aware that again the victory was not 
to be his. The lack of training and practice, and per- 
haps also the depression which his previous defeat had 
produced in his mind contributed to his failure ; but 
whatever the cause, though he exerted himself to the 
utmost, he found that he was unable to overtake either 
Mott or Ogden, who steadily held their places before 
him. It was true when the race was finished that 
he was less than a yard behind Mott, who was himself 
only about a foot in the rear of the fleet-footed Ogden, 
and that the fourth runner was so far behind Will that 
he was receiving the hootings and jibes of the sopho- 
mores, but still the very best that Phelps was able to 
do was to cross the line as third. It w'as true that 
again he had won a point for the honor of his class, 
but it was first place he had longed to gain, and his 
disappointment was correspondingly keen. 

It was Hawley who again received him in his arms, 
and once more the young giant endeavored to console his 
defeated classmate, for as such Will looked upon him- 
self, in spite of the fact that he had come in third, and 
therefore had scored a point in each race. But as 
Hawley perceived that his friend was in no mood to 
listen, he wisely refrained from speaking, and both 


128 WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

stood near the track watching the contestants in the 
various events that were not yet run off. Too proud 
to acknowledge his disappointment in his defeat by de- 
parting from the field, and yet too sore in his mind to 
arouse much enthusiasm, he waited till the games were 
ended and it was known that the sophomores had won 
by a score of sixty -four and a half to forty-eight and a 
half. Then he quietly sought the dressing room, and 
as soon as he had donned his garments went at once to 
his own room. 

It was a relief to find that not even Foster was there, 
and as he seated himself in his easy -chair and gazed out 
at the brilliantly clad hills with the purple haze that 
rested over them all, for a time a feeling of utter and 
complete depression swept over him. Was this the ful- 
fillment of the dreams he had cherished of the happi- 
ness of his college life ? Already warned by Splinter 
that his work in Greek was so poor that he w^as in dan- 
ger of being dropped from the class, the keen disap- 
pointment of his father apparent though his words had 
been few, the grief in his home and the peril to him- 
self were all now visible to the heart-sick young fresh- 
man. And now to lose in the two track events had 
added a weight that to Will seemed to be almost crush- 
ing. He had pictured to himself how he would lightly 
turn away his poor work in the classroom by explaining 
that he could not hope to win in everything, and that 
athletics had always been his strong point anyway. 
But now even that was taken away and his failure was 
almost equally apparent in both. 


WAGNER'S ADVICE 


129 


He could see Peter John coming up the walk, receiv- 
ing the congratulations of the classmates he met and 
giving his “pump-handle” handshake to those who 
were willing to receive it. It was maddening and al- 
most more than Will thought he could bear. It was a 
mistake that he had ever come to college anyway, he 
bitterly assured himself. He was not well prepared in 
spite of the fact that he had worked hard for a part of 
his final year in the preparatory school. Greek ? He 
detested the subject. Even his father came in for a 
share of blame, for if he had not insisted upon his tak- 
ing it Will never would have entered Splinter’s room. 
He might have taken German under “Dutchy,” or 
English under Professor Jones, as many of his class- 
mates were doing, and every one declared that the work 
there was a “snap.” 

It was not long before Will Phelps was in a state of 
mind wherein he was convinced that he was being badly 
treated and had more to contend against than any other 
man in his class. His naturally impulsive disposition 
seldom found any middle ground on which he was per- 
mitted to stand. His father had one time laughingly 
declared that the comparative degree had been entirely 
left out of Will’s make-up and that things were usually 
of the superlative. ‘ ‘ W orst, ” “ best, ” “ poorest, ’ ’ 
“finest” were adjectives most commonly to be found 
in his vocabulary, and between the two extremes a great 
gulf appeared to be fixed. He had also declared that 
he looked for Will to occupy no middle ground. He 
would either be a pronouncedly successful man or an 


130 WINNING HIS 

equally pronounced failure, a very good man or a man 
who would be a villain. And Will had laughingly 
accepted the verdict, being well assured that he knew, 
if it must be one of the two, w'hich it would of neces- 
sity be. All things had gone well with him from the 
time of his earliest recollections. His home had been 
one of comfort and even of elegance, any reasonable 
desire had never been denied, he had always been a 
leading spirit among the pupils of the high school, and 
that he was too, a young fellow who was graceful in his 
appearance, well dressed, and confident of his own 
position, doubtless Will Phelps was aware, although he 
did not give expression to the fact in such terms. 

And now the ‘ ‘ superlative degree ’ ’ had certainly 
displayed itself. Will thought in his w’retchedness, only 
it had manifested itself in the extreme which he never 
had before believed to be possible with him. He lis- 
tened to the shouts and laughter of the students passing 
along the street below and every fresh outburst only 
served to deepen his own feeling of depression. Not 
any of the enthusiasm was for him. 

He was roused from his bitter reflection by the 
opening of the door into his room, but he did not look 
up, as he was convinced that it was only his room- 
mate, and Foster understood him so well that he 
would not talk when he saw that he was in no mood 
for conversation. 

‘‘Hello, Phelps ! What’s wrong?” 

Will hastily sat erect and looked up. His visitor 
was Wagner, the captain of the track team, the one 


wagner\s advice 


131 


senior of all others for whom Will cherished a feeling 
of respect that was almost unbounded. He had never 
met the great man before, but he had looked up to him 
with awe when Wagner had been pointed out to him 
by admiring students, and he was aware that the cap- 
tain’s reputation was as great in the college for his 
manliness as it was for his success in athletics. Unpre- 
tentious, straightforward, without a sign of “ cant ” or 
“gush ” about him, the influence of the young leader 
had been a mighty force for good in the life of Winthrop 
College. And now as Will glanced into the face of the 
tall, powerful young fellow and realized that it was 
indeed himself whom his visitor was addressing, his 
feeling of depression instantly gave place to surprise 
and in the unexpected honor he found it diflicult to 
express himself. 

“Nothing much. I wasn’t just looking for any — 
for you, ” he stammered. “ Won’t you take this chair, 
Mr. Wagner?” Will pushed the easy-chair toward 
his visitor as he spoke and again urged him to be seated. 

“That’s all right, Phelps. Keep your seat. I’ll 
just sit here,” replied Wagner, seating himself upon the 
edge of Will’s desk. “ How do you feel after the 
games?” he inquired. 

“I’m a bit sore outside and worse still inside.” 

“What’s the trouble?” 

“I came in only third. ” 

“ Only third ? Where did you expect to come in ? ” 

“ Why — why, I was hoping I’d get first in the hun- 
dred,” Will managed to reply. 


132 


WINNING HIS ‘Mv” 

“You’re a modest youth,” laughed Wagner, sur- 
veying his long legs and laughing in such a manner that 
Will was compelled to join. 

“ Well, the fellows rather thought I’d win and that’s 
what makes me feel worse about it.” 

“ They’re only freshmen ; they don’t know any bet- 
ter,” laughed Wagner. “Don’t let that bother you 
for a minute. I think you did well myself, and besides, 
the freshmen very seldom win in the sprints. I don’t 
know that I ever saw one since I’ve been in college.” 

“Did you win the hurdles when you were a fresh- 
man ? ’ ’ 

“Oh, I just happened to. ’Twas an accident of 
some kind, I fancy. Yes, I think the soph who was 
ahead of me tripped and fell, so I crawled in first.” 

“ That will do for you to tell.” 

“Perhaps I did win. But that’s neither here nor 
there. It isn’t what I came for. I didn’t want to talk 
about myself but about you.” 

Will looked up eagerly but did not speak, though his 
question was to be seen in the expression of his face. 

“ My advice to you is to go to work and try for the 
track team in the spring.” 

“Do you think I can make it? ” said Will breath- 
lessly. 

“I don’t say that,” laughed Wagner. “That’s 
something to be decided later. All I said was that 
you’d better Hry ’ for it. You’ve nothing to lose if 
you fail and something to win if you succeed.” 

“ But if I should try and then not make it.” 


WAGNER'S ADVICE 


133 


“Yes, that's a possibility, of course. No man can 
ever tell about that. But I shouldn’t let it break 
my heart if I didn’t make the team the first year. 
Very few do that. All I say is go ahead and try. 
No man can ever tell what’s in him till he tests him- 
self, can he ? ” 

“No, I suppose not.” 

“Now don’t have any nonsense about it, Phelps, 
and don’t misunderstand me. I believe in every man 
doing his best and then just resting there and not crying 
over what he can’t ever have. If a man does his best 
and then doesn’t have the whole world bowing and 
scraping before him because he isn’t very high up, that 
isn’t any reason why he should kick. Take what 
you’ve got, use it, test it, and then if you find you’re 
not a star but only a candle, why, just shine as a candle 
and don’t go sputtering around because you can’t twinkle 
like a star. At least that’s the way I look at it. ” 

“ Perhaps a fellow’s father and mother don’t look at 
it that way. ’ ’ 

“Are you having trouble with Splinter ? ” demanded 
the senior sharply. 

“ A little. Yes, a good deal. I detest the fellow ! ” 
said Will bitterly. 

“No wonder you lost the hundred,” responded 
Wagner with a smile. “ Do you know, Phelps, I had 
the same experience you’re having with him when I 
was a freshman.” 

“What did you do ? ” 

“ Do? There’s only one thing to do and that is to 


134 


WINNING HIS 

do liis work. But I advise you to go down to his house 
and see him and talk it over.” 

“ He won’t want to see me.” 

“Yes, he will. He’s not half so bad as you think. 
Try it ; I did.” 

“ He’ll think I’m trying to boot-lick.” 

“ No, he won’t. You can run if you have to, can’t 
you?” demanded Wagner. “You’ve got a good 
‘stride,’ and, like trying for the track team, you’ve 
nothing to lose and everything to gain. ’ ’ 


CHAPTER XIV 


THE ADVICE FOLLOWED 

F or a time after the departure of Wagner, Will 
Phelps sat thinking over the stirring words of his 
visitor. His feeling of positive discouragement, with 
the natural rebound of his impulsive temperament, had 
in a measure given place to one of confidence and even 
of elation. To be recognized by the great captain was an 
honor of itself, but to receive a personal visit from him 
and a warm invitation to try for a place on the track 
team was a distinction for which he never had even 
dared to dream. Even his other pressing problem — his 
work in Greek — appeared slightly more rosy-hued now, 
and a sudden determination seized upon him to do as 
Wagner had suggested and see Splinter that very night. 

Accordingly, soon after dinner — the meal at his fra- 
ternity house which he had dreaded in view of the semi- 
defeat of the afternoon — he started toward the home of 
his professor of Greek, resolved to talk over the entire 
situation with him and strive to learn exactly where he 
stood and what his prospects were likely to be. 

As he approached the walk that led from the street 
back to the professor’s home he came face to face with 
Mott and Peter John Schenck. His surprise at meet- 
ing them was not greater than that he should find them 

135 


136 


WINNING HIS 

together, and the fact to his mind boded little good for 
his classmate. 

Going in to see Splinter ? ’ ’ inquired Mott. 

“Yes.” 

‘ ‘ Better not. ’ ’ 

“Why?” 

“ Boot-licking isn’t in very high favor here at Win- 
throp. ” 

Will was glad that the darkness concealed the flush 
which he knew crept over his face, but his voice was 
steady as he replied : “That’s all right, Mott. I’m 
not going in to see Splinter because I want to, you may 
let your heart rest easy as to that.” 

‘ ‘ How long are you going to be in the house ? ’ ’ 

“I’m afraid that will not be for me to decide. If I 
have my way, it won’t be long.” 

“Well, good luck to you ! ” called Mott as he and 
his companion passed on down the street. 

Will rang the bell and was at once ushered into the 
professor’s study. The professor himself was seated at 
his desk with a green shade over his eyes, and evidently 
had been at work upon some papers. Will even fancied 
that he could recognize the one which he himself had 
handed in the preceding day and his embarrassment 
increased. 

“Ah, good evening, Mr. Phelps,” said the pro- 
fessor extending his hand and partly rising from his 
seat as he greeted his caller. “ Will you be seated? ” 

“Good evening, professor,” replied the freshman as 
he took the chair indicated. 


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THE ADVICE FOLLOWED 


137 


An awkward silence followed which Will somehow 
found it difficult to break in upon. He heartily wished 
that he had not come, for the reality was much worse 
than he had thought. Even the very lines and furrows 
in the professor’s face seemed to him to be forbidding, 
and he felt that it would be well-nigh impossible for 
him to explain the purpose of his coming. 

“Was there something concerning which you desired 
to consult me ? ” inquired the professor. The voice 
seemed to be as impersonal as that of a phonograph, 
and every letter in every word was so distinctly pro- 
nounced that the effect was almost electric. 

“Yes, sir.” 

Again silence intervened. The professor’s lips moved 
slightly as if, as AVill afterwards declared, “he was 
tasting his Greek roots,” but he did not speak. The 
freshman shifted his position, toyed with his gloves and 
at last, unable to endure the suspense any longer, he 
broke forth : 

“Yes, sir, there is, professor. I have not been doing 
very well in my Greek.” 

“Ah. Let me see.” The professor opened a drawer 
and drew forth a little notebook which he consulted for 
a brief time. “Yes, you are correct. Your work is 
below the required standard.” 

“ But what am I to do about it? ” demanded Will. 

“Yes, ah, yes. I fancy it will be necessary for 
you to spend a somewhat longer period of study in 
preparation.” 

“ But how shall I study ? ” 


138 


WINNING HIS 

“Yes. Yes. Ah, yes. Exactly so. So you refer 
to the method to be employed in the preparation for 
the classroom ? ’ ’ 

“ Yes, sir. That’s it. I’m willing enough to work, 
but I don’t know how.” 

“Well, I should say that the proper method would 
be to employ a tutor for a time. There are several very 
excellent young gentlemen who are accustomed to give 
their services to deserving youth ” 

“ I don’t want them to give it. I’ll pay for it ! ” 
interrupted Will. 

“ I was about to say that these young gentlemen give 
their services for a consideration — a proper considera- 
tion — of course.” 

The professor’s thin lips seemed to be reluctant to 
permit the escape of a word, so firmly were they pressed 
together during the intervals between his slowly spoken 
words. His slight figure, “too thin to cast a shadow,” 
in the vigorous terms of the young freshman, was irri- 
tating in the extreme, and if Will had followed his own 
inclinations he would at once have ended the interview. 

‘ ‘ I knew I could get a tutor, and if it is necessary 
I’ll do it. But I did not know but that you might be 
able to make a suggestion to me. I know I’m not very 
well prepared, but if you’ll give me a show and tell me 
a little how to go to work at the detestable stuff I’ 11 do 
my best. I don’t like it. I wouldn’t keep at it a 
minute if my father was not so anxious for me to keep 
it up and I’d do anything in the world for him. That’s 
why I’m in the Greek class.” 


THE ADVICE FOLLOWED 


139 


‘‘ You are, I fancy (fawncy was the word in the dia- 
lect of the professor) doing better work in the various 
other departments than in your Greek ? ’ ’ 

“Yes, sir. I think so.” 

“You are not positive ? ” 

“Yes, sir. I know I’m doing fairly well in my Latin 
and mathematics. Why the recitation in Latin never 
seems to be more than a quarter of an hour, while the 
Greek seems as if it would never come to an end. I think 
Professor Baxter is the best teacher I ever saw and he 
doesn’t make the Latin seem a bit like a dead language. 
But the Greek seems as if it had never been alive. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Ahem-m ! ’ ’ piped up the thin voice of the pro- 
fessor of Greek. 

Will Phelps, however, was in earnest now and his 
embarrassment was all forgotten. He was expressing 
his own inward feelings and without any intention or 
even thought of how the words would sound he was de- 
scribing his own attitude of mind. He certainly had 
no thought of how his words would be received. 

“Ahem-m!” repeated the professor shrilly and 
shifting a trifle uneasily in his seat. ‘ ‘ I fawncy that a 
student always does better work in a subject which he 
enjoys.” 

“Yes, but doesn’t he enjoy what he can do better 
work in too? Now I don’t know how to study Greek, 
can’t seem to make anything out of it. As you told 
me one day in the class ‘ I make Greek of it all. ’ Per- 
haps not exactly the kind of Greek you want, though,” 
Will added with a smile. 


140 


WINNING HIS 

“ Ah, yes. I fawncy a trifle more of work would aid 
you.” 

“ Of course ! I know it would ! And that’s what 
I’m willing to do and what I want to do, professor. 
But the trouble is I don’t know just how to work.” 

“ I — I fail to see precisely what you mean.” 

“Why, I spend time enough but I don’t seem to 
‘ get there ’ — I mean I don’t seem to accomplish much. 
My translation’s not much good, and everything is 
wrong.” 

“ Perhaps you have an innate deficiency ” 

“You mean I’m a fool?” Will laughed good- 
naturedly, and even the professor smiled. 

“ Ah, no. By no means, Mr. Phelps, quite the con- 
trary to that, I assure you. There are some men who are 
very brilliant students in certain subjects, but are very 
indifferent ones in others. For example, I recollect that 
some twenty years ago — or to be exact nineteen years 
ago — there was a student in my classes who was very 
brilliant, very brilliant indeed. His name as I recall 
it was Wilder. So proficient was he in his Greek that 
some of the students facetiously called him Socrates, 
and some still more facetious even termed him Soc. I 
am sure, Mr. Phelps, you have been in college a suffi- 
cient length of time to apprehend the frolicsome nature 
of some of the students here.” 

“I certainly have,” Will remarked with a smile, 
recalling his own compulsory collar-button race. 

“ I fawncied so. Well, this Mr. Wilder to whom I 
refer was doing remarkable work, truly remarkable 


THE ADVICE FOLLOWED 


141 


work in Greek, but for some cause his standing in 
mathematics was extremely low, and in other branches 
he was not a brilliant success.” 

“ What did he do ? ” inquired Will eager to bring 
the tedious description to a close, and if possible receive 
the suggestions for which he had come. 

‘ ‘ My recollection is that he finally left college. ’ ’ 

“ Indeed ! ” Will endeavored to be duly impressed 
by the startling fact, but as he recalled the profes- 
sor’s statement that the brilliant Wilder was in college 
something like twenty years before this time, his 
brilliancy in being able to complete the course and 
now be out from the college did not seem to him 
to indicate any undue precocity on the part of the 
aforesaid student. 

“ Yes, it was so. It has been my pleasure to receive 
an annual letter from him, and I trust you will not think 
I am unduly immodest when I state that he acknowl- 
edges that all his success in life is due to the work he 
did here in my own classes in Winthrop. My sole 
motive in referring to it is the desire to aid you.” 

^‘You think I maybe another Wilder ?” inquired 
Will lightly. 

“Not exactly. That was not the thought that was 
uppermost. But it may serve as an incentive to you.” 

“What is this Wilder doing now ? ” 

“ Ahem-m ! ” The professor cleared his throat re- 
peatedly before he spoke. “He is engaged in an oc- 
cupation that brings him into contact with the very 
best that has been thought and said, and also into con- 


142 


WINNING HIS 

tact with some of the brightest and keenest intellects 
of our nation.” 

“ He must be an editor or a publisher then.” 

“Not exactly. Not exactly, Mr. Phelps. He is 
engaged rather in a mercantile way, though with the 
most scholarly works, I do assure you.” 

“ Is he a book agent ? ’ ’ 

“Ahem-m! Ahem-m ! That is an expression I 
seldom use, Mr. Phelps. It has become a somewhat 
obnoxious term, though originally it was not so, I 
fawncy. I should hardly care to apply that expression 
as indicative of Mr. Wilder’s present occupation.” 

‘ ‘ And you think if I try hard I may at last become 
a book agent too ? ’ ’ 

You have mistaken my implication,” said the pro- 
fessor scowling slightly as he spoke. ” I was striving 
solely to provide an incentive for you. You may re- 
call what Homer, or at least he whom in our cur- 
rent phraseology we are accustomed to call Homer 
— I shall not now enter into the merits of that ques- 
tion of the Homeridae. As I was about to remark, 
however, you doubtless may recollect what Homer in 
the fifth book of his Iliad, line forty-ninth, I think it 
is, has to say.” 

“I’m afraid I don’t recall it. You see, professor, I 
had only three books of the Iliad before I came to 
Winthrop.” 

“Surely! Surely! Strange that I should have 
forgotten that. It is a pleasure you have in store then, 
Mr. Phelps.” 


THE ADVICE FOLLOWED 


143 


“ Can you give me any suggestions how to do better 
work, professor? ’’ inquired Will mildly. 

“ My advice to you is to secure Mr. Franklin of the 
present junior class to tutor you for a time.’^ 

“Thank you. ITl try to see him to-night,” said 
Will rising and preparing to depart. 

‘ ‘ That might be wise. I trust you will call upon 
me again, Mr. Phelps. I have enjoyed this call ex- 
ceedingly. You will not misunderstand me if I say I 
had slight knowledge of your classic tastes before, and 
I am sure that I congratulate you heartily, Mr. Phelps. 
I do indeed.” 

“Thank you,” replied Will respectfully, and he 
then departed from the house. He was divided between 
a feeling of keen disappointment and a desire to laugh 
as he walked up the street toward his dormitory. And 
this was the man who was to stimulate his intellectual 
processes ! In his thoughts he contrasted him with his 
professor in Latin, and the man as well as the language 
sank lower and lower in his estimation. And yet he 
must meet it. The problem might be solved but could 
not be evaded. He would see Franklin at once, he 
decided, but as he approached the border of the hedge- 
row that was growing about the professor’s grounds, he 
heard a sound that instantly caused him to abandon his 
project and to begin to run at his utmost speed down 
the street that led toward the valley below. 


CHAPTER XV 


THE PROFESSOR OF GREEK 

O X the stillness of the evening air there had arisen a 
sound that had startled Will by its weirdness and 
abruptness. For a moment he had stopped and listened 
intently. Evidently it came from the valley or hillside 
on the quiet and unoccupied street below the professor’s 
house, and at first Will could not determine whether it 
was a cry of distress or a call for help. The sound had 
continued, however, and in a brief time Will had recog- 
nized it and instantly had begun to run at his utmost 
speed in the direction from which it had been heard. 

As he came near the end of the little street he per- 
ceived a large platform that had been erected near the 
roadside evidently by some milkman as a place where 
his cans might be stored. On the platform now, how- 
ever, he perceived the figure of a man who was in- 
dulging in a grotesque form of dancing. His move- 
ments were extremely awkward, and as he moved about 
on the platform he accompanied his awkward motions 
with what evidently was designed to be a song. Around 
the border of the platform three forms were to be seen, 
and all three were accompanying the song and dance 
by a slapping of their hands in an attempt to keep time 
with what little rhythm there was in the actions of the 
144 


THE PROFESSOR OF GREEK 


145 


performer. Their attention plainly was centered upon 
the figure of the dancer, and as the place was some- 
what remote from any dwelling it was also evident that 
they had no fear of interruption. 

As AYill drew near he had no difficulty in recognizing 
Peter John Schenck as the ungraceful man on the plat- 
form. Even if he had not been able to determine who 
it was by the actions there could be no mistaking the 
sound of the voice. Utterly without any appreciation 
of music or time, the sound as Will afterward described 
it seemed to be a cross between the screech of the whistle 
of a locomotive and the moaning of a whirlwind in 
distress. He could recognize the words as he came 
nearer the place, and if he had not been aware that 
it was a friend and classmate who was in trouble, he 
himself doubtless would have laughed heartily at the 
performance. 

“Nut-brown Maid ’’ was just completed and “Yan- 
kee Doodle ” had been begun when Will approached, 
but the drone of the monotonous sounds did not check 
the speed at which he was running. He knew that 
Peter John was in the hands of the sophomores and was 
doing “stunts” for their delight. He must do his 
utmost to rescue him, he decided, come what might. 

He could see that the tormentors were still too 
intent upon their occupation to give heed to any- 
thing else, and that his own coming was as yet un- 
known. Increasing the speed at which he was running 
he shouted : 

“Surround them, fellows ! Don’t let one of them 

K 


146 


WINNING HIS 

get away ! We’ll have them every one ! Be quick ! 
Be quick ! ” 

The startled sophomores gave one glance behind them 
and then instantly broke and fled from the spot. Not 
one waited to discover just how many were in the ad- 
vancing party, but the loud shout and the evident spirit 
of confidence with which it had been given convinced 
every one that their rival class was upon them in over- 
whelming numbers, and discretion became the better 
part of valor. Not one stayed upon the order of his 
going but went at once. 

Quickly advancing to the platform where Peter John 
was still standing and going through his monotonous 
performance. Will said sharply : 

“ Quit that. Come along with me ! ” 

“ Is that you. Will ? ” 

“Yes. Yes. Don’t waste a minute ! Come on ! 
Come on ! ” 

“ I was trying your plan this time. Will,” said Peter 
John as he leaped to the ground, “ I wasn’t fighting 
back. I ” 

“ Quit your talking and come along or we’ll both be 
in it!” interrupted Will sharply as he turned and 
began to run up the street. 

“ I don’t believe they’ll ” began Peter John, 

nevertheless beginning to follow his classmate at full 
speed. 

“Never mind what you believe ! Just come along 
and make better time than you did on the track too ! ” 

“I won ” 


THE PROFESSOR OF GREEK 


147 


But Peter John ceased abruptly when calls and cries 
were heard behind him, and they were aware that their 
rivals had rallied and w^ere in full pursuit. Doubtless 
they now were fully aware of the ruse that had been 
employed and were eager to atone for their own mistake. 

The two freshmen, however, had a good start, and 
the desire to escape provided a strong incentive. At 
the head of the street, and directly opposite the resi- 
dence of the Greek professor, there was a park of several 
acres in extent, and Will’s hope was that if they could 
once gain that they would be able to conceal themselves 
from their pursuers and make their way in safety to 
their rooms in the dormitories, where he had slight fear 
of further trouble. 

As he swept swiftly past the corner he obtained a 
momentary glimpse of the professor himself, who was 
standing on the corner of the street gazing up into 
the starlit heavens, which were unusually clear and 
bright. Without decreasing the speed at which they 
were running the two freshmen darted past the startled 
man, ran swiftly across the street and gained the shelter 
of the high hedge which surrounded the park on the 
opposite side. 

“Go on, Peter John!” whispered Will. “Put 
straight for my room and ITl come along pretty quick. ” 

< < j ) > 

“Go on! Do as I tell you!” demanded Will 
brusquely, and as he darted behind the hedge he could 
see that his classmate had obeyed and was speeding up 
the pathway as if the hosts of evil were at his heels. 


148 


WINNING HIS 

In a brief time Peter John had disappeared from sight 
and Will turned and peered through the hedge at the 
opposite side of the street where he could see that the 
professor was still standing gazing up into the heavens, 
and where he also expected Mott and his companions 
to appear shortly. 

Nor was he mistaken. In a moment the forms of the 
three students could be seen coming up the street and 
running swiftly. Whether it was the dimness of the 
light or the confusion in their minds that was the cause 
of what followed Will never knew, but the forward 
runner, whom he took to be Mott, ran full into the 
waiting professor, and in an instant both had fallen to 
the ground. 

‘‘I’ve got him ! Grab hold of him ! Don’t let 
him get away ! ’ ’ called Mott as he rolled over on the 
gravel. 

His comrades instantly obeyed, and for a moment 
Will gazed at the struggling mass before him, hardly 
daring to trust the evidence of his own senses. Quickly 
the prostrate forms arose and the professor was stand- 
ing in their midst. Will could see it all and distinctly 
hear every word that was spoken, but he parted the 
hedge before him and peered out, fearful that some- 
thing would escape him. 

“W-what’s the meaning of this?” gasped the as- 
tonished professor. “I know you! I know you! 
What’s your name ? what’s your name ? ” 

“ Gr-e-a-t Scott!” Will heard Mott ejaculate. 
“ It’s Splinter.” 



“ Will could see it all ani distinctly 
hear every word that was spoken.” 

Page 148. 





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THE PROFESSOR OF GREEK 


149 


Instantly the grasp upon the professor of Greek was 
relaxed, and the three startled sophomores turned and 
fled at a speed which, if it had been noted, doubtless 
would have established a ‘ ‘ record ’ ’ in the annals of 
AVinthrop College. Almost before Will was aware of 
what had occurred Mott and his two companions had 
vanished, and the sound of their feet could no longer 
be heard on the gravel walk. The professor stood gaz- 
ing blankly in the direction in which they had disap- 
peared, and then began to adjust his ruffled plumage 
and to strive to ascertain if he had suffered any severe 
damage in the unexpected onslaught. 

Repressing his glee Will instantly darted across the 
street to offer his assistance to the unfortunate victim. 
“Are you hurt, professor?” he inquired as he ap- 
proached. 

‘ ‘ Who are you ? Did you have any part in the at- 
tack upon me?” demanded the professor, peering in- 
tently into Will’s face as the latter drew near. 

“No, sir ; I saw it, but before I could come to your 
help they had all run away.” 

“Do you fawncy it could have been the work of 
highwaymen?” inquired the professor, hastily feeling 
of the pocket in which he wore his watch as he spoke. 

“No, sir. I hardly think it was. Are you in- 
jured ? ” 

‘ ‘ I cannot decide as to that. Doubtless I shall soon 
be able to ascertain the damage I have suffered. It 
was an outrage,” piped the professor. 

“ It certainly was.” 


150 


WINNING HIS 

“Ah, now I recognize you, Mr. Phelps. I must 
beg your pardon for the unjust accusation I brought 
against you. I might have known that you had no 
part or lot in this matter. You are a gentleman.’ ^ 

‘ ‘ Thank you, professor. Shall I help you to your 
house ? ” 

“ That is kind of you. It might be well for you to 
accompany me to my door. I may be more severely in- 
jured than I conceive at the present moment. I fawncy 
that my heart is beating with unusual rapidity.” 

Will grasped the arm of the professor and together 
they began to move in the direction of the latter’s home. 

“I cannot account for the savageness of the on- 
slaught,” said the professor. “ It is inexplicable and 
unaccountable to me.” 

“ It was strange,” assented Will sympathetically. 

‘ ‘ Have you any conception as to the names of my 
assailants ? ’ ’ 

“ It was not very light,” said Will evasively. “ I 
thought I heard you say that you knew who they 
were ? ’ ’ 

“ Their faces were extremely familiar to me. Doubt- 
less they were students whom I have instructed, but the 
suddenness of the attack well-nigh prevented me from 
making the careful observations which otherwise I should 
have made. My mind is impressed, however, that my 
assailants were students. ’ ’ 

Will did not feel called upon to express his own 
opinion, and therefore made ilo reply to the implied 
question, 


THE PKOFESSOR OF GREEK 


151 


“ If my inference is a correct one,” resumed the pro- 
fessor, ‘ ‘ I confess that my feeling of anger threatens 
almost to overmaster me. I fawncy I can never ap- 
prehend the force of that figure wherein Homer — 1 use 
the term relatively and not actually, you will under- 
stand — describes the rage of Agamemnon as being co- 
incident with the swelling of his diaphragm. Ah, 
those were the days of true heroes, they were indeed,” 
sighed the scholarly man. 

‘‘I don’t believe Agamemnon w'as ever treated as 
you were, professor.” 

“ Certainly. I admit that. My experience was 
somewhat unique.” 

It surely was. ’ ’ 

‘‘I cannot conceive of any motive that should have 
been conducive to such conduct. I assume that the ac- 
tion was that of students, though I may be entirely in- 
correct in my assumption.” 

“ They may have made a mistake,” suggested Will. 

** In what particular ? ’ ’ 

“Why, if they were students they may have mis- 
taken you for one of them.” 

‘ ‘ I question if my appearance is sufficiently youthful 
to warrant such a conclusion.” 

“It wasn’t very light, professor. I’m sure no 
student would ever treat you as you were treated if he 
had known who it was.” 

“ That is a not unnatural inference,” murmured the 
professor. “ I have never knowingly inflicted any suf- 
fering upon any creature.” 


152 


WINNING HIS 

“ Everybody knows that.” 

“ Well, we will say no more about it,” said the pro- 
fessor as they mounted the steps to his house. “I 
fawncy I have suffered more from the shock than from 
any serious infliction of damage. If I was the victim 
of a mistake, doubtless those w'ho were also mistaken 
as to my identity are suffering at the present moment even 
more than I. Doubtless also they will in person come 
to me and make such amends as lies within their power. 
All this is upon the supposition that my assailants were 
students, and were guilty of a grievous error as to my 
own personal identity.” 

Will thought of Mott and could not entirely repress 
the smile that rose to his face as he recalled the 
“scruples” of that individual. They were standing 
on the piazza now, and the light from the lamp in the 
professor’s study was shining through the window full 
upon them. The professor’s hat was crushed and 
somewhat rakishly rested upon his broad, intellectual 
brow. His collar also was crumpled, and his necktie 
had slipped from its proper place until it was resting 
directly beneath his left ear. There were marks of his 
contact with the gravel also, and altogether the appear- 
ance which the worthy man presented was strikingly 
different from that in which he was wont to be seen in 
the presence of his classes. 

As for the “rage” of which he had spoken. Will 
would have feared almost as much the anger of a canary, 
for the man’s gentleness and almost morbid conscien- 
tiousness were proverbial in the college. His life was 


THE PROFESSOR OF GREEK 


153 


in another and different world from that in which the 
students lived, and neither had a very fine apprecia- 
tion of the other. 

Will now felt that he had done all that was to be ex- 
pected of him, and after making further inquiries and 
expressing his regret for the unfortunate occurrence, he 
bade the professor good night once more, and then de- 
parted for his room. He had no fear of an attack now, 
and as he walked slowly across the park the full sense 
of the ludicrous nature of what he had seen occurred 
to him, and even his sympathy for the unfortunate vic- 
tim of the mistake was forgotten as he seated himself 
upon a rustic bench near the path and laughed until 
the tears stood in his eyes. 


CHAPTER XVI 


A FRESH INCENTIVE 


HEN Will Phelps at last returned to his room he 



vv found Foster there and already hard at work. 
The story of Will’s visit to the professor of Greek 
and the events that had followed were soon told, and in 
his quiet way Foster laughed as heartily as his room- 
mate over the ludicrous aspect of the mistake of Mott 
and his companions. 

‘‘You didn’t get many pointers on your Greek, 
then ? ’ ’ inquired Foster. 

“Nothing except that I might become a successful 
book agent if I braced up,” replied Will ruefully. 
“ I don’t believe it’s worth it.” 

“ Now see here. Will,” said Foster earnestly, “that 
isn’t the point.” 

“ What is it, then ? ” 

‘ ‘ There are two ’ ’ 

“Sort of a forked tongue or point?” interrupted 


Will. 


‘ ‘ Put it in that way if you want to, but keep quiet 
a minute and let me say my say. Now of course Splin- 
ter isn’t a man that would ever do much of anything 

outside his Greek ” 

“ Except haze the sophs.” 

154 


A FRESH INCENTIVE 


155 


** Put that in if you want to. Now as I was saying, 
Splinter isn’t a very practical man perhaps, and there 
may be some like him who can do well in Greek and in 
nothing else. But that isn’t all there is of it. There 
are a good many men who do well in that and in other 
things too. Now that’s a side of it which you don’t 
want to forget, and a good many of these men say that 
they got more help out of their Greek than from almost 
anythiug else in the whole course.” 

“ What good will Greek do me when I’m a lawyer ? ” 

“ What does the fireman shovel coal under the boiler 
for ? He doesn’t get anymore coal for what he’s doiug 
and he never sees that coal again. It’s gone, but it 
wasn’t wasted, was it? Tell me that.” 

“ That’s all right ; but what has that to do with 
Splinter?” 

“ Just this : Splinter is the professor of Greek here, 
and if you want to get the Greek, you’ve got to get it 
of him.” 

“ But I don’t want to get it.” 

“ You may need it if you don’t want it.” 

“ Go ahead with your tale. I’m all ears.” 

‘ ‘ Then please turn the whole length of them in this 
direction,” laughed Foster. Kemember you’re like 
the fireman. Will. You’ve got to shovel in the Greek 
not because you expect to get the same stuff back again 
in the same form, but because it lets loose a good many 
other things, the same as the heat of the coal lets loose 
the steam and helps to generate the power of the great 
engine. Men who have tried it say that there’s nothing 


156 


WINNING HIS W 


j) 


like the hooest study of the Greek language and litera- 
ture to make a man appreciate the very best things in 
life, and I tell you, Will, I don’t want to go through 
life with no more appreciation than a mule.” 

“ Will it help me win a five thousand dollar fee? ” 

“ Yes, sir, it will ! And what’s more it’ll help you 
to know how to use your money after you get it. ’ ’ 

“ I don’t know that I need any particular instruc- 
tion as to that,” responded Will with a laugh. 

“Yes, you do! Everybody does I If there’s any 
man in all the world for whom I have a feeling of pity 
it’s the man who can have the best of everything but 
doesn’t know enough to know what is the best and 
doesn’t appreciate it if he has it. And the woods are 
full of just such men. They put a lot of money into 
a house for example, and what a place it is I And 
even if it isn’t, how absolutely dependent they are 
upon what other men tell them to do and have. They 
don’t know anything about it. Then they Want to 
have a library and somebody has to make out a list of 
the proper books for them to buy. As far as they’re 
concerned they might as well buy their books by the 
yard or by their bindings. They don’t really know 
what’s in the books or what they’re for. I tell you. 
Will Phelps, if I had to take my choice between being 
a man who has what you call ‘ success ’ and even a man 
like Splinter, I’d choose to be like Splinter every time. 
He really will get more out of his life and living than 
the other fellow, I don’t care if he’s got a hundred 
millions. I’ve come to believe that the most practical 


A FRESH INCENTIVE 


157 


man in the world is the one that can see the most in 
life and get the most out of life. Just think of a man 
who can’t get any fun in reading any book except his 
bank book.” 

“ Even that might be good reading sometimes, 
Foster.” 

“ That’s all true. I’m not saying anything against 
that. But all money is good for is to use, isn’t it? ” 

“ That’s about all the good it has ever done me ; but 
my mind is open and I’m ready to be convinced,” 
laughed Will. 

That’s all right,” said Foster earnestly, “but you 
know every word I’ve been saying is true. Will, you 
know you do. 

“ ‘ Present condition with nothing implied as to its 
fulfillment.’ That’s good Greek, isn’t it? Oh, I’m 
not such a fool as you think I am. It’s the way my 
mother dresses me that gives you that impression.” 

“You know I’m speaking the truth. Will Phelps, 
and I understand you well enough to know too, that in 
your heart of hearts you think just as I do.” 

“So I’ve heard you remark before this. What’s 
point number two, Foster ? You said you had a double 
header, didn’t you? ” 

“Yes, I did. And the other is that a fellow who 
has the brains you have has no right to play the baby 
act and sit down and whine and cry before a man like 
Splinter. ’ ’ 

“ I haven’t ! ” retorted AVill warmly. 

“Yes, you have too ! You talk about Splinter and 


158 


WINNING HIS 


the foolishness of studying Greek and all that sort of 
stuff and nonsense, and you know, and I know, and 
you know I know, and I know that you know that 
I know it’s nothing but a crawl. That’s just exactly 
what it is ! ” 

“ This is the house that Jack built. This is the ” 

“ Oh, drop that. Will, and talk sense if you can.” 

“ It’s easier sometimes to talk Greek.” 

“ It isn’t for you. Am I right or wrong? Answer 
me. Will.” 

“I’ll own up, Foster, you’ve hit my solar plexus. I 
don’t know that I care as much for the Greek as you 
do, and though I’ll own up to a good deal you say 
about the benefit of the study and all that, still I’ve a 
notion that a fellow can get a good many of the same 
results from studying stuff that isn’t so absolutely dead 
as Greek is. But when you begin to talk about my 
being floored by the old Greeks or even by Splinter, 
who, in my opinion, ought to have been born in Athens 
about twenty -two hundred years ago, why then you’re 
hitting pretty close to the line. Honestly, Foster, I’m 
going to do that Greek or perish in the attempt. I’m 
like the Spartan freshman that let the fox gnaw him 
under his cloak, or like those chaps that stood there in 
the pass of Thermopylae, though, to my way of think- 
ing, I’d rather use the figure of the battle of Trenton, 
for to me Washington and those ragged fellows that 
followed him up across the Delaware and marched bare- 
footed for nine miles through the ice and snow clear up 
to Trenton beat the old Greek chaps all to flinders.” 


A FRESH INCENTIVE 


159 


“ I don’t care how you do it, if you’ll only do it.” 

“ All right, old man. I made up my mind to that 
when my father was here. He told me I was likely 
to find ‘ Splinters ’ all along the way, and the sooner I 
got in my fine work the better for me.” 

“ And I know you can do it. Will.” 

“Nothing like having your friends pass judgment 
on you.” 

“They’re the ones that know. I read the other day 
of a poor woman who was present in court when her 
husband stood up to receive his sentence. The paper 
said she broke down and cried and sobbed out that ‘ all 
men have their faults, and stealing was Bill’s.’ ” 

“ What’s the inference? I don’t just see how that 
applies to the case of myself and Splinter.” 

“ Nothing, except to back up what you said just 
now about being judged by your friends. Probably 
that woman knew some of Bill’s good qualities better 
than the judge did. He saw one side and she saw 
another.” 

‘ ‘ And when you use your microscope you think you 
can find one or two little good things in me ? ” 

‘ ‘ I know I can. I know you better than Splinter 
does. ’ ’ 

“ For which I am ‘ yours truly.’ Say, Foster, Wag- 
ner came around to see me.” 

“ He did ? What did he want ? ” 

“ He invited me to join the track team.” 

‘ ‘ Honestly ? ’ ’ 

“There you are!” 


laughed Will. “You talk 


160 


WINNING HIS 

about being judged by one’s friends and then out pops 
your honest opinion the first chance it gets. Well, he 
didn’t exactly invite me to join, but he invited me to 
try to join, and that’s the next thing to it, isn’t it? ” 

“ It may be with you if you will do one thing.” 

“ What’s that? ” 

Work, and work hard for it. That’s what beat 
you to-day.” 

“ I thought Mott had something to do with that.” 

“He just happened to be the fellow, that’s all. If 
you had got yourself ready for the meet, it couldn’t 
have been Mott or any one else. ’ ’ 

“ Mott certainly worked for it,” said Will thought- 
fully. 

“ Of course he worked for it ! ” 

* ‘ And he had the date changed and shut me out so 
that I didn’t have any chance to train.” 

“That isn’t the point, Will. You weren’t ready 
for it.” 

“That’s a self-evident proposition,” laughed Will. 
“ Foster, are you going to try to make the track team ? ” 

“I may try, but I don’t stand as good a show' as 
you do.” 

“No. You w^ere only first in your event while I 
was third in mine. You make me think of old Mr. 
Peters in our church at home. You remember him, 
don’t you ? ” 

“Yes. What about him ? ” 

“ Why, they were talking about benevolence one 
night, and the good old man was telling how he had 


A FRESH INCENTIVE 


161 


always made it a rule to give away a tenth of all he 
made, and he had been prospered so much that he said 
he was seriously thinking of changing his plan, and in- 
stead of giving a tenth he thought now he could afford 
to raise it to a twentieth. I’ve a notion that you’re 
figuring a little bit as the good old man was when you 
try to make it out that because I was third I may have 
a show for the team, while you were only first and 
therefore it’s doubtful whether or not you’ll be able to 
make it.” 

‘‘Nonsense, and you know it. Will. All you’ve 
got to do is to look at the figures. The time in the 
hundred was mighty good — better, the fellows say, 
than has been made in a freshman -sophomore meet in 
six years. And you and Mott and Ogden were all 
bunched at the finish. Can’t you see, if that is so, that 
as you hadn’t trained any and yet did so well you’d 
very likely beat them both if you should work for it ? ” 

“And you?” 

“ Oh, we fell below every record for the past five 
years. So although I won out, it doesn’t mean that 
we did anything much.” 

‘ ‘ Foster, ’ ’ said Will in a low voice. 

“ Say on, my lord.” 

“I’m going to begin to-morrow to work for the 
track team. ’ ’ 

“I shouldn’t do it. Will. You’ll be stale before 
spring, and besides you must get your Greek up, you 
know.” 

“ I’m going to do both.” 

li 


162 


WINNING HIS W 


)) 


“ You can do it.” 

“ I know it,” said Will simply, and then he laughed. 

I^m modest, Foster, even you’ll have to acknowledge 
that.” 

‘‘That’s all right. You aren’t talking it around, 
only just to me, and I understand you perfectly.” 

“ But I’d rather run than study Greek.” 

“ You can run for that. You’ve been running away 
from it, you know.” 

Will Phelps laughed, for his hopefulness had re- 
turned, and for the moment everything appeared bright 
to him. The disappointment of the afternoon was for- 
gotten, and when Foster rose from his seat and declared 
that it was high time for them both to be in bed. Will 
refused to listen, but insisted upon sitting up to work 
upon his Greek. And there before his desk, fast asleep 
in his chair, his room-mate found him when the chimes 
in the near-by college tower rang out the hour of one 
o’clock. 


CHAPTER XVII 


A REVERSED DECISION 

I N the days that immediately followed, Will Phelps 
found himself so busy that there was but little 
time afforded for the pleasures of comradeship or for 
the lighter side of college life. Acting upon the one 
good point in the advice of his professor of Greek he 
secured a tutor, and though he found but little pleas- 
ure in the study, still he gave himself to it so unreserv- 
edly that when a few weeks had elapsed, a new light, 
dim somewhat, it was true, and by no means altogether 
cheering, began to appear upon his pathway. It was 
so much more difficult to catch up than to keep up, 
and perhaps this was the very lesson which Will Phelps 
needed most of all to learn. There was not much time 
given to recreation now, and Will acting upon the 
advice of the instructor in athletics had abandoned his 
projected practice in running though his determination 
to try to secure a place on the track team was as strong 
as ever. But he had substituted for the running a line 
of work in the gymnasium which tended to develop the 
muscles in his legs and keep his general bodily condition 
in good form. He was informed that success in running 
was based upon nerve force as well as upon muscular 
power, and that ‘‘early to bed ’’ was almost as much a 

163 


164 


WINNING HIS 

requisite here as it was in making a man “ healthy and 
wealthy and wise.” This condition however he found 
it exceedingly difficult to fulfill, for the additional work 
he was doing in his Greek made a severe draught upon 
his time as well as upon his energies. 

‘ ‘ I hate the stuff ! ” he declared one night to his 
room-mate after he had spent several hours in an almost 
vain effort to fasten certain rules in his mind. “You 
donT catch me taking it after this year.” 

“You don’t have to look ahead, Will,” suggested 
Foster kindly. 

“No, the look behind is bad enough. If I had 
worked in the early part of the high -school course as I 
ought to I’d not be having all this bother now.” 

“ And if you work now you won’t have the trouble 
ahead,” laughed Foster. 

“I suppose that’s the way of it.” 

“ Of course it is. A fellow reaps what he sows.” 

“I’d rather rip what I sewed,” said Will ruefully. 

‘ ‘ Do you know, Foster, sometimes I think the game 
isn’t worth the candle. I’d give it all up, even if I 
had to leave college, if it wasn’t for my father.” 

“You wouldn’t do anything of the kind and you 
know it. Will Phelps ! You’re not the fellow to run 
when the pinch comes. ’ ’ 

“ I’d like to, though,’ ’ said Will thoughtfully. “ My 
fit in Greek was so poor I’ll never get much of the good 
from studying it. ’ ’ 

“You’ll be all the stronger for not giving up, any- 


A REVERSED DECISION 


165 


“ That’s the only thing that keeps me at it. I’m so 
busy I don’t even have time to be homesick.” 

“ Well, that’s one good thing.” 

“ Perhaps it is, but if I flunk out at the mid-year’s 
>> 

‘‘You won’t if you only keep it up and keep at it.” 

“ I’d feel better if I thought I wouldn’t.” 

“You’ll be all right,” said Foster soothingly, for 
he understood his friend so well that he knew he was in 
one of his periods of mental reaction, and that what 
he needed was encouragement more than anything else. 

“And just think of it,” continued Will gloomily, 
“ you’re about the only one of the fellows I ever see 
nowadays. I don’t believe I’ve seen Hawley in three 
weeks, that is to have a word with him.” 

“Who has?” 

“ I don’t know. All the fellows, I suppose.” 

“Not much ! Hawley is working like a Trojan on 
the football team. You know that as well as I do.” 

“ I suppose that’s so. Still I’d like to see the fellow 
once in a while.” 

“ He’s a good man all right and I’ve a notion that 
he’s saved Peter John from more than one scrape 
because he roomed with him. ” 

“ I haven’t seen Peter John either for more than a 
week. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ We ought to look him up and keep an eye on him.” 

“ ‘Keep an eye on him ’ ? You want to keep both 
eyes and your hands and your feet too, for the matter 
of that. He certainly is the freshest specimen I ever 


166 


WINNING HIS 

saw, and the worst of it all is that he doesn’t seem to 
know that he lacks anything. He’s just as confident 
when he marches up to Wagner and gives him some 
points in running the track team as he is when he’s 
telling you and me how to work up our Greek. And 
the fellow has flunked in Greek every time he’s been 
called up for the past ten days. ’ ’ 

‘‘Yes, I know it. That’s why I said we ought to 
look out for him.” 

“ He’s got to learn how to look out for himself.” 

“He needs a tutor, though. Will ” 

“Same as I do in my Greek? That’s not nice of 
you, Foster. It’s bad enough to have to work up the 
stuff without having it rubbed in. And yet,” said 
Will quietly, “I suppose I am in the same box with 
Peter John. He doesn’t know some things and I don’t 
know others.” 

“No one has everything,” said Foster quickly. 

‘ ‘ Startling fact ! But we fellows who live in glass 
houses mustn’t throw stones I ‘fawncy,’ as my learned 
instructor would put it. There I am again, finding 
fault even with Splinter when I ought to be boning on 
this Greek to make up for my own lacks. Here I go ! ” 
And Will resolutely turned to the books which were 
lying open on his desk. 

The silence that reigned in the room was broken in a 
few minutes when Hawley opened the door and entered. 
His coming was greeted enthusiastically, and when he 
had accepted the invitation to be seated, he said quickly, 
“ I can’t stay, fellows.” 


A REVERSED DECISION 


167 


“You never can nowadays, Hawley. Since you’ve 
been on the team you’ve shaken all your old friends.” 

“You’d shake too, if you had the captain over you 
that we have.” 

“ Is he hard ? ’ 

“Hard? He beats every coach we’ve got. He 
goes into the game as if there wasn’t anything else to 
think of.” 

“It counts though,” responded Will emphatically. 
“ We haven’t lost but two games so far this season, and 

they were with and . Of course we couldn’t 

expect to win those. ’ ’ 

“ Oh, we’ve done fairly well. But the hardest rub 
is coming next Saturday. That’s when we’re going 
down to the city to have our game with Alden. There’ll 
be a big crowd out, and the Alden alumni are mighty 
strong around town there too, and they’ll be out in 
bunches. We’ve got to keep up our end, and that’s 
why I’ve come over to see you fellows. I want you 
both to go next Saturday.” 

“ Sure ! ’ ’ shouted Will, leaping to his feet. “We’ll 
be on hand. You rest your soul easy about that.” 

‘ ‘ How many are going, Hawley ? ’ ’ inquired Foster 
quietly. 

“So far, about half the college have agreed to go. 
We’d like to get another hundred to go along. It will 
make a big difference to the team. Last year there 
were six thousand people on the grounds, and it rained 
hard too, all the time. This year, if we have a good 
day, there’ll be ten thousand on hand anyway.” 


168 


WINNING HIS 

“ How are the fellows going down ? ” said Foster. 

‘ ‘ Chartered a special train. ’ ^ 

“What’s the fare?” 

“ About six dollars for the round trip.” 

‘ ‘ Come back the same day ? ’ ’ 

“ Can if you want to, the train is coming back that 
night after the game. But a good many will stay over 
till Monday.” 

“ When do you have to know? ” 

“You ought to give in your names by to-morrow 
night. Peter John is going along. I think he’ll be a 
good mascot, don’t you? ” laughed Hawley. 

“I’m sorry Peter John is going,” said Foster 
thoughtfully. 

“Sorry ! ” exclaimed Hawley aghast. “ Why, man 
alive, he’ll have the time of his life.” 

“That’s what I’m afraid of, and besides he ought 
not to spend the money. ” 

“I don’t know anything about that,” said Hawley 
quickly. “ But he may make enough on the game to 
pay all his expenses.” 

“ Has he staked money on the game? ” said Will. 

“You’ll have to ask him,” retorted Hawley some- 
what sharply. “We can count on you two fellows 
then, can we? ” 

“ That’s what you can ! ” replied Will heartily. 

“I’ll think about it and let you know in the morn- 
ing,” said Foster. And Hawley at once departed from 
the room. 

“ What do you suppose it means that Peter John is 


A REVERSED DECISION 


169 


going?” was Foster’s first question after their visitor 
had departed. 

“I don’t know, but I don’t like the look of it,” 
responded Will. 

“ Neither do I. Can we do anything to stop it? ” 

“No, I’m afraid not. Peter John is getting be- 
yond us.” 

Foster shook his head thoughtfully but made no re- 
sponse, and the work was resumed. For an hour each 
boy labored at his desk, and then Foster was the first 
to break in upon the silence. 

“ Will,” he said, “I think I’ll go with you on that 
trip with the team. ’ ’ 

“ I don’t think I’ll go,” said Will quietly. 

“ Not go? Why not? ” demanded Foster in aston- 
ishment. 

“I’ve been thinking it over and I’ve made up my 
mind that it won’ t do for me to break in on the regular 
programme I’ve mapped out for myself. You see Sat- 
urday is the day when I always have a double dose 
with my tutor, and it won’t do for me to spoil it,” and 
Will Phelps made a wry face as he spoke. 

“But, Will,” protested Foster, “you can makeup 
the work before then and not lose a bit.” 

“Yes, I’ve thought of that, but I don’t think I’ll 
do it. It’s a bitter dose I know, but I might as well 
swallow it first as last.” 

‘ ‘ Do you mean it ? ” 

“ Don’t I act as if I did ? ” 

“ All right. I’ll not say another word. Maybe 


170 


WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

it’ll be a way out for Peter John. I’d like to fix it 
for the fellow if I can.” 

“ I don’t just see ” began Will ; but he stopped 

when he perceived that his room-mate had risen from 
his seat and was about to depart from the room. 

On the following day the excitement among the 
students of Winthrop increased when a mass meeting 
was held and various leading spirits of the college de- 
livered very florid and perfervid addresses in which the 
student-body was urged to support the team and take 
advantage of the low rates offered to accompany it 
and be on hand on the field to cheer it on to victory. 
Shouts and cheers greeted the speakers, and when the 
meeting broke up and the boys were returning to their 
rooms Mott and Peter John joined Will on his way to 
Perry Hall. 

‘ ‘ Have the time of your young life on Saturday, 
Phelps,” said Mott loudly. 

” I’m not going.” 

‘‘Why not? All the fellows are.” 

“ I’d like to, but I’ve some work I must do, and I 
can’t break in on it.” 

‘‘You must be a ‘shark,’ Phelps,” laughed Mott. 
‘‘I’d like to see the work that would keep me away. 
Peter John Schenck and I intend to take it all in, 
don’t we, freshman? ” he added, turning to his com- 
panion as he spoke. 

‘‘Ye-es, I guess so,” responded that worthy who 
had been addressed. 

“ You’ll have a good time,” said Will. ‘‘I wish I 


A REVERSED DECISION 


171 


could go too, but I can’t, and the only thing for me to 
do is to stand up and not whine over it.” 

“ You’ll be sorry for it,” laughed Mott, as he and 
Peter John turned toward the latter’s room. “ All we 
can do will be to try to make up for what you’re going 
to lose.” 

And Will Phelps did almost feel that he was too 
strict in his demands upon himself when the student- 
body formed in line early Saturday morning and, pre- 
ceded by a brass band, started down the street on the 
way to the station. His room-mate had said no more 
to him concerning the trip, but as Will marched by 
Foster’s side he could feel the deep sympathy of his 
friend. His heart almost misgave him. It was not 
too late even yet to go, for doubtless he could borrow 
money of some one. Perhaps it was too much a mere 
sentiment to hold himself to his w^ork as he was doing. 
And he detested the work so heartily too. 

Still he held rigidly to his decision, and even when 
the heavily laden train pulled out from the station and 
the words of the song which was sung came back to 
him he did not falter, though his heart was heavy 
within him. 

Gaudeamus igitur 
Juvenes dura suraus 
Gaudearaus igitur 
Juvenes dura suraus 
Post jucundara juventutem 
Post raolestara senectutera 
Nos habebit buraus 
Nos babebit buraus. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


TELEGRAMS 


HEN Will Phelps returned to the colleges, the 



vv entire place to him seemed to be deserted, and 
a stillness rested over all that was almost oppressive. 
Even the few college boys who were to be seen about 
the grounds all shared in the prevailing gloom and 
increased the sense of loneliness in the heart of the 
young freshman. When he entered his room, the sight 
of his room-mate’s belongings was almost like that of 
the possessions of the dead and Will Phelps was utterly 
miserable and dejected. 

Work he decided was his only cure and at once he 
busied himself at his task from which he was aroused 
in the course of an hour or two by the coming of the 
senior who was tutoring him. 

“Pm mighty glad to see you,” said Will impul- 
sively. “ I feel as if I was about the only one of my 
kind in the world.” 

“ You’re downhearted over deciding to stay in town 
to-day?” replied his tutor pleasantly. “Oh, well, 
never mind. It will be a good tonic for you and when 
you’ve passed your mid-year’s in Greek, you’ll never 
once think of this trip with the team to-day.” 

“I’m afraid that’s cold comfort just at the present 


172 


TELEGRAM 


173 


moment. I’ve just been hanging on and that’s all 
there is to it. ’ ’ 

“ Sometimes it’s the only thing a fellow can do. It 
may bring a lot of other good things with it, though.” 

Maybe, ” replied Will dubiously. “There’s one 
thing I’ve learned though, and if I ever come to know 
my Greek as well as I know that. I’ll pass all right.” 

“ What’s that ? ” 

“Never to get behind. I’ll keep up and not catch 
up. When I see what a fool I made of myself in my 
* prep ’ days, I wonder sometimes that I ever got into 
college anyway. I never really worked any except in 
a part of the last year.” 

“ You’re working now,” suggested the senior. 

“ Yes, I have to. I don’t like it though. The 
descent to A vermis is the easy trip, if I remember my 
Virgil correctly. It’s the getting back that’s hard.” 

“ Do you know, I never just believed that.” 

“You didn’t? Why not? Why, you can see it 
every day ! It’s just as easy as sliding down hill. It’s 
dragging the sled back up the hill that makes the 
trouble.” 

“That isn’t quite a fair illustration. If I'm not 
mistaken, it seems to me that somewhere, sometime, 
some one said that ‘ The way of the transgressor is hard. ’ 
He didn’t seem to agree with Virgil’s statement some- 
how, did he ? ” 

“ But that means it’s hard afterward.” 

“ That isn’t what it says. I think k means just what 
it says too.” 


174 


WINNING HIS 
“ I don’t see.” 

‘‘Well, to me it’s like this. In every fellow there’s 
a good side and a bad side. Sort of a Doctor Jekyl 
and Mr. Hyde in every one of us. I heard the other 
day in our laboratory of a man who had taken and 
grafted one part of the body of an insect on the body 
of another. He tried it both on the chrysalis and on 
an insect too. I understood that he took the pupa of a 
spider and by very careful work grafted upon it the 
pupa of a fly. Think of what that monstrosity must 
have been when it passed out from the chrysalis and 
became a full-fledged living being. One part of it try- 
ing to get away from the other. One wanting to fly 
and the other to hide. One part wanting to feed on 
flies and the other part in mortal terror of all spiders. ’ ’ 
“Was that really so?v” inquired Will deeply in- 
terested. 

“ I didn’t see it myself, but it was told over in the 
biological laboratory, and I don’t think there was any 
question about it. It struck me that it was just the 
way some of us seem to be built, a sort of a spider and 
fly combination and not the ordinary combination 
either, when the fly is usually inside of the spider and 
very soon a part of his majesty. And yet when you’ve 
told all that you know, it’s a sort of monstrosity after 
all, and that the truth is that a fellow really is his best 
self if he’ll only give that part half a chance. That’s 
why I say the way of the transgressor is hard and not 
easy. A fellow is going against the grain of his best 
side. He throws away his best chances under protest 


TELEGRAMS 


175 


all the while, and he doesn’t want to do it either. No, 
Phelps, I believe if a fellow goes down hill it’s like 
a man dragging a balky horse. It looks easy but it 
isn’t, and he himself is pulling against it all the time.” 

“I never thought of it in that way before.” 

** Then, on the other hand this very kind of work 
you’re doing now is the sort that stirs your blood. I 
expect that those fellows who live down in the tropics 
and about all the work they have to do to feed them- 
selves is to pick a banana off a tree and go through the 
exertion of peeling it, don’t really get half the fun out 
of life that some of us boys had up on the hillside 
farms in Vermont. Why, when we’d have to get up 
winter mornings, with the weather so cold that we’d 
have to be all the while on the lookout that we didn’t 
freeze our ears or noses, and when we’d have to shovel 
out the paths through three feet of snow and cut the 
wood and carry water to the stock, it did seem at 
times to be a trifle strenuous ; but really I think the 
boys in Vermont get more fun out of life than the 
poor chaps in the tropics do who plow their fields by 
just jabbing a hole in the ground with their heel, and 
when they plant, all they have to do is to just stick a 
slip in the ground. It’s the same way here, Phelps. 
This sort of thing you’re doing is hard, no doubt about 
that ; but it’s the sort of thing that really stirs up a 
live man, after all.” 

“I’m afraid I’ll be all stirred up if we don’t get at 
this work pretty soon,” laughed Will, who was never- 
theless deeply impressed by the words he had heard 


176 


WINNING HIS ^^W” 


from the prospective valedictorian of the senior class. 
“Why can’t we do it all up this morning?” he in- 
quired eagerly. 

“All?” 

“ Oh, I mean all we were planning to do to-day. I’d 
like to go down to the gym this afternoon and watch 
the bulletins of the game. I decided not to go, but if 
I can get my work off that’ll be the next best thing ; 
and besides it’ll help to pass the time. It’s going to 
be a long day for me.” 

“ All right, I’m agreeable,” replied the senior cor- 
dially. 

Until the hour of noon was rung out by the clock in 
the tower. Will labored hard. The words of his tutor 
had been inspiring, but he could not disguise from him- 
self the fact, however, that he had little love for 
the task. It was simply a determination not to be 
“ downed,” as Will expressed it, that led him on and 
he was holding on doggedly, resolutely, almost blindly, 
but still he was holding on. About three o’clock in 
the afternoon the few students who were in town as- 
sembled at the telegraph office where messages were 
to be received from the team at intervals of ten min- 
utes describing the progress of the game. One of the 
seniors had been selected to read the dispatches and 
only a few minutes had elapsed after the assembly had 
gathered before the senior appeared, coming out of the 
telegraph office and waving aloft the yellow slip. A 
cheer greeted his appearance but this was followed by a 
tense silence as he read aloud : 


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“ ‘ Ball on Altlen’s twenty-five yard 
line. Great run by Thomas.’ ” 

Page 177. 


TELEGRAMS 


177 


“ They’re off. Great crowd. AVinthrop line out- 
weighed ten pounds to a man. Holding like a stone 
wall.” 

“ That’s the way to talk it ! ” shouted the reader as 
he handed the dispatch to the operator, and then began 
to sing one of the college songs, in which he was speed- 
ily joined by the noisy group. 

The song was hushed when again the operator ap- 
peared and handed another slip to the leader. Glan- 
cing quickly at it the senior read aloud : 

“ Ball on Alden’s twenty -five yard line. Great run 
by Thomas. Hawley playing star game.” 

Hawley, Thomas, and the captain of the team, and 
then the team itself, were cheered, and once more the 
group of students gave vent to their feelings in a noisy 
song. It was all stimulating and interesting, and AVill 
Phelps was so keenly alive to all that was occurring, 
that for the time even his disappointment in not being 
able to accompany the team was forgotten . 

A groan followed the reading of the next dispatch. 
“ Alden’s ball on a fumble. Steadily forcing AVinthrop 
line back by superior weight. Ball on AVinthrop’s forty- 
yard line. ’ ’ 

‘‘That looks bad,” said AV^ill’s tutor, who had 
now joined the assembly and was standing beside AVill 
Phelps. “AVe’ve a quick team, but I’m afraid of 
Alden’s weight. They’ve two or three men who ought 
not to be permitted to play, anyway. ’ ’ 

“ Professionals? ” inquired AA^ill. 

“Yes, or worse.” 

M 


178 


WINNING HIS “W” 

Have we any on our team ? ’* 

“ Hardly, ’ ^ laughed the senior. But Will was think- 
ing of the conversation he had had with Hawley when 
they had first entered college, and was silent. Besides, 
another dispatch was about to be read and he was eager 
to hear. 

“Ball on Winthrop’s five-yard line. Hawley in- 
jured and out of the game.” 

“Too much beef,” muttered the reader disconso- 
lately, and the silence in the assembly was eloquent of 
feelings that could not be expressed. 

Less than the regular interval had elapsed when an- 
other yellow slip was handed the reader, and the sus- 
pense in the crowd was almost painful. The very 
silence and the glances that were given were all indica- 
tive of the fear that now possessed every heart. 

“Alden makes touchdown. No goal,” read the 
leader. 

“Five nothing! Team’s no good this year, any- 
way I ” declared one of the students angrily. “ Had 
no business to play Alden, anyway I Ought to have 
games with teams in our class.” 

* ‘ Alden seemed to be in our class last year, or rather 
she didn’t,” said the reader quietly. “Remember 
what the score was ? ” 

“ No. What was it ? ” 

“Twenty -four to nothing in our favor. If they win 
this year it will be only following out the regulation see- 
saw that’s been going on for seven years. Neither col- 
lege has won its game for two successive years. ’ ’ 


TELEGKAMS 


179 


“ Alden will win this time all right enough.’^ 

“ Perhaps. The game isn’t ended yet. You haven’t 
learned the Winthrop spirit yet, which is never to give 
up till the game is played clear through to the end. 
You’ve got something to learn yet.” The rebuked 
student did not reply, but the expression upon his face 
betrayed the fact that he was still unconvinced, and 
that he did indeed have the first of all lessons taught at 
Winthrop yet to learn. 

The score was unchanged at the end of the first half, 
and the students scattered during the period of inter- 
mission, assured that no further information would be 
received until after the second half of the game was 
begun. The confidence in victory was, however, not 
so great when they assembled once more, though the 
interest apparently was as keen as at the beginning. 
For some unaccountable reason the dispatches were 
delayed and a much longer interval than usual inter- 
vened before the welcome yellow slip was handed to the 
announcer. Murmurs of disappointment were heard on 
every side, and it became more evident with every pass- 
ing moment that hope had mostly been lost. At last, 
however, the welcome word was received, and even 
Will Phelps was so eager to hear that he crowded for- 
ward into the front ranks of the assembly. 

Alden scores touchdown and goal. Winthrop 
fighting desperately, but outweighed and outplayed 
since Hawley taken out.” 

“ It’s all over but the shouting,” said the sophomore 
whose gloomy views had been so sharply rebuked by 


180 


WINNING HIS 

the senior. ‘ ‘ There isn’ t any use in hanging around 
here. Come on, fellows ! Let’s go where there’s some- 
thing a little more cheerful.” 

He made as if to depart from the crowd, but as no 
one followed him, he apparently abandoned his purpose 
and remained with his fellows. Only two more dis- 
patches were read, the second of which announced the 
end of the game with the score still standing in favor 
of Alden eleven to nothing. 

“ Kotten ! ” exclaimed the sophomore angrily. 

“Just what we might ” He stopped abruptly 

as the senior advanced to a place where he could be 
seen by all and began to harangue the assembly. 

“Now, fellows,” he began, “the best test of our 
spirit is that we can stand up and take this in the right 
way. Of course, we wanted the game, and some of us 
hoped and expected we would have it too. But the 
other team, and doubtless the better one, has won. 
Next year we’ll be ready for them again, or rather 
you will, for I sha’n’t be here, and the time to begin to 
win then is right here and now. But I want to put in 
a good word for our team. I haven’t a doubt that 
they did their level best, and if we could see them now, 
we’d be almost as proud of them as if they had won. 
I know every man put in his best work. And what I 
propose is that we go down to the station to-night and 
meet them with as hearty a cheer as if they had won 
the game, for we know they did their best to uphold 
the honor of old Winthrop to a man ! ” 

A cheer greeted the senior’s words, and at ten o’clock 


TELEGRAMS 


181 


that evening all the students who were in town as- 
sembled at the little station to greet the returning mem- 
bers of the team. But Will Phelps, when the train 
came to a standstill and the boys leaped out upon the 
platform, speedily forgot all about the game in the sight 
which greeted his eyes. 


CHAPTER XIX 


PETER John’s downfall 

I X the midst of the cheering and shouting that greeted 
the return of the team and its supporters, Will 
Phelps attained a glimpse of the sturdy heroes them- 
selves who had fought the battle of the gridiron. Some 
of them were somewhat battered and he could see 
that Hawley carried his arm in a sling. His class- 
mate’s face was pale, but as he was surrounded by a 
crowd of students. Will found it was impossible to make 
his way to him and soon gave up the attempt. He was 
standing somewhat back from the train eagerly watch- 
ing all that was going on about him, but only in a half- 
hearted way joining in the excitement, for the defeat of 
the team and his own disappointment in not being able 
to make the trip had chilled his enthusiasm. 

Suddenly he caught sight of Foster as he stepped 
down upon the platform and instantly Will began to 
push his way forward to greet him. As Foster stepped 
down he turned back as if to assist some one, and Will 
perceived that it was Peter John Schenck who was 
being assisted. But his actions were strange and his 
general appearance w^as woe -begone in the extreme. 

“What’s the matter with Peter John? Sick?” 
inquired Will as he pressed forward. 

182 


PETER John’s downfall 


183 


“Sick? Sick nothing!” retorted Foster in a low 
voice. “ Can’t you see what ails him ? The fool I ” 

The maudlin expression on Peter John’s face, his 
wabbling steps, the silly smile with which he greeted 
Will at once disclosed what his condition was and with 
a feeling of disgust Will turned away. 

“Hold on. Will,” called Peter John tremulously, 
beginning to cry as he spoke, ‘ ‘ don’ t go backsh on a 
fellow now. I los’ ail my money. Seven dollar I put 
up on the team an’ they jis’ sold out,” and Peter 
John’s tears increased and he threatened to fall on 
Foster’s shoulder. 

Will had turned back sharply at the words, his dis- 
gust and anger so plainly stamped upon his face that 
even Peter John was moved by it and began to sob 
audibly. ‘‘Sold out. Will! Seven dollar all gone! 
Too bad! Too bad!” 

“ Get a carriage. Will,” said Foster in a low voice. 
“If we can get the fellow up to his room without at- 
tracting too much attention we may be able to put him 
in bed.” 

As Will turned away, he was rejoiced to notice that 
his classmate’s condition had apparently not attracted 
the attention of the crowd, which was too much occu- 
pied in the excitement of greeting the team to be mind- 
ful of other matters. Disgust and anger were so min- 
gled in Will’s feelings that he was hardly aware of what 
he was doing, but at last he succeeded in getting a car- 
riage, and bidding the driver hold it near the end of the 
platform, he hastened back to the assistance of Foster. 


184 


WINNING HIS 

As he returned he noticed that Mott was now with 
Peter John, and only one glance was required to show 
that he was in a condition similar to that of Peter John, 
though not quite so helpless. 

‘ ‘ Glad t’ see you, freshman, ’ ’ stammered Mott as 
Will approached. ‘‘ Great sport, that fellow,” and he 
pointed stupidly at Peter John as he spoke. “ Put U2:> 
his monish like li’le man. No squeal from him, no, 
not a squeal. No, goo’ man. Goo’ man, freshman.” 

“Shall we take him too ? ” inquired Will of Foster. 

“Yes, if there’s room.” 

“ I think there will be. I’ve got a two-seated ar- 
rangement.” 

“ He can make his way all right, I think, but you’ll 
have to help me with Peter John. Get hold of his 
other arm. That’s right,” he added as Will grasped 
his maudlin classmate by the left arm, while Foster 
supported him by the right. 

“ Come on, Mott, if you want to ride up,” said Will 
sharply to the sophomore. 

“That ish good o’ you, freshman,” drawled Mott. 
‘ ‘ Broke, dead broke ! Do ash much for you some day. 
You get broke some daysh, I s’ pose.” 

“Shut up, Mott,” said Foster savagely. 

“ A’-a’ right. Just’s you say, not’s I care.” 

A few in the assemblage noted the condition of the 
boys and laughed thoughtlessly, but neither Will nor 
his room-mate was in a frame of mind to respond. 
Disgusted, angry, mortified beyond expression, they 
nevertheless assisted the boys to the seats in the carriage 


PETER John’s downfai.l 


185 


which Will had secured, and quickly doing as he was 
bidden, the driver whipped up his horses and started 
briskly up the street. Peter John had fallen heavily 
against Will’s shoulder and was instantly asleep, but 
Mott was not to be so easily disposed of. Peering out 
from the window at the crowds that were moving up the 
street and by which the carriage was passing, he emitted 
three or four wild whoops and then began to sing : 

“We’re coming, we’re coming, our brave little band. 

On the right side of temperance we always do stand ; 

We don’t use tobacco, for this we do think. 

That those who do use it most always do drink.” 

“ Mott, if you don’t keep quiet I’ll throw you out,” 
exclaimed Will mortified as he perceived that the pass- 
ing crowd was turning about to discover what the noisy 
commotion meant. 

“A’-a’ right,” responded Mott in a shout that 
could have been heard far away. “I’ll be as sthill as 
an intensified hippopotamus ! Not a sound of my voice 
shall awake the echoes of these purple hills. I’ll not 
be the one to arouse the slumbers of this peaceful vale.” 

“Driver,” interrupted Will sharply, “stop your 
horses.” 

‘ ‘ No, no. Will, you’ll only make a bad matter worse. 
Let’s keep on and do the best we can. It’ll only call 
attention to ourselves,” said Foster hastily. 

“ Thatsh sho,” assented Mott noisily, swaying in his 
seat as he spoke. “ Keep on, driver. Go straight up 
to proxy’s house ; I’ve got something p’ticular to shay 


186 


WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

t’ him. Shame, way the team sold out t’-day ! Dis- 
grace to old Winthrop ! Have a good mind to leave 
the college myself an’ go to Alden ; they’re men there ! 
They know how to stan’ up an’ take their med’cine. 
Great place, Alden ! Guess they’ll be shorry here 
when they shee me with a great big A on my sweater ! ” 
Mott, keep still,” exclaimed Foster. 

“ Keep still yerself, freshman. Don’t talk t’ me.” 

There was nothing to be done except to endure it all 
in silence or put the noisy student out of the carriage. 
Poor Will felt that the people they were passing looked 
upon all four of the occupants of the carriage as if they 
were all in the same disgraceful condition. His eyes 
blazed and his cheeks were crimson. To him it seemed 
as if the horses were scarcely moving on their way to 
Leland Hall. The way was interminable, the suffering 
almost too great to be endured. 

At last, however, the driver halted before the dormi- 
tory where Mott had his room and Foster said, Will, 
I’ll look after this fellow if you’ll attend to Peter John.” 

“ Nobody — no freshman in p’ticular — ish going to 
help me ! ” exclaimed Mott noisily. “ I can walk a 
chalk line, I can. Keep your eyes on me and you’ll 
see how it’s done.” 

‘‘All right. Get out, then,” said Foster hastily. 

Mott lurched out of the carriage, and the driver, at 
Foster’s word, at once started on and neither of the 
boys glanced behind to see how it fared with the intoxi- 
cated sophomore. They were eager now to dispose of 
their classmate, and as soon as the carriage halted in 


PETER John’s downfall 


187 


front of Leland Hall they tried to arouse the slum- 
bering freshman. At last, by dint of their united 
efforts, they succeeded in lifting him to the ground, 
and then they somehow got him up the stairway and 
soon had him in his bed. When their labors were 
ended Will exclaimed, “ It must be midnight. Surely 
the people couldn’t see who we were except when the 
carriage passed the street lights, but I’m afraid some 
of them knew then.” 

That isn’t so bad. I don’t care half so much 
about their seeing as I do about something else.” 

“What’s that?” 

“ What they saw. Poor fool ! ” he added bitterly 
as he turned and glanced at the bed whereon Peter 
John was lying and noisily sleeping. “ I did my best 
to hold him back, but he would go on with Mott.” 

“ Do you think he lost his money too ? ” 

“ Haven’t a doubt of it.” 

“ And he didn’t have very much to lose.” 

“ It was all he had. It would have been the same 
if it had been seven thousand instead of just plain seven. 
He was so set up by the attentions of Mott that he was 
an easy mark. I never saw anything like it.” 

“Well, all I can say is that I hope I sha’n’t again, 
but probably I shall if he stays in college,” said Will 
bitterly. 

“It’s in him, that’s about all one can say,” said 
Foster. “ If it hadn’t been here it would have been 
somewhere else. And yet they say that a college is a 
dangerous place for a young fellow to be in.” 


188 


WINNING HIS ^^W^’ 

‘‘I don’t believe it.” 

“ No more do I. There are all kinds here the same 
as there are pretty much everywhere, and all there is 
of it is that a fellow has a little more freedom to follow 
out just what he wants to do.” 

‘‘Come on,” suggested Will, starting toward the 
door. “We can’t do anything more for Peter John. 
He’ll probably be around to see us to-morrow.” 

As the boys approached the doorway they met Hawley 
and at his urgent request turned back into the room 
with him. The big freshman glanced at his sleeping 
room-mate and then laughed as he said, “ Too young. 
Ought not to have left his mother yet. ’ ’ As neither of 
the boys replied, Hawley continued, “He’ll have to 
quit that or he’ll queer himself in the college. I don’t 
know that he can do that any more successfully than he 
has done already though,” he added. 

AYill was irritated that Hawley should take the mat- 
ter in such a light way and said half-angrily, “Do 
you suppose he’ll be hauled up before the faculty? ” 

“Not unless they hear of it,” laughed Hawley, 
“and I don’t believe they will.” 

“Tell us about the game,” interrupted Foster. 

‘ ‘ My story is short and not very sweet, ’ ’ retorted 
Hawley grimly, glancing at his arm as he spoke. 

“ How did that happen ? ” 

“Nobody knows. It’s done and that’s all there is 
to it. I’m out of the game for the rest of this season.” 

“That’s too bad. Did Alden really have such a 
tremendous team ? ’ ’ 


PETER JOHN'S DOWNFALL 


189 


“Look at the score. You know what that was, 
don’t you? ” 

“Yes, I heard. Come on. Will. We’d better be 
in bed. We’ll get Hawley to tell us all about the 
game some other time. Come on.” 

The two freshmen at once departed, but when they 
were in their own room it was not the lost game which 
was uppermost in their minds and conversation, but the 
fall of Peter J ohn. And when at last they sought their 
beds it was with the conviction that Peter John himself 
would seek them out within a day or two and try to 
explain how it was that his downfall had occurred. 
This, they thought, would give them the opportunity 
they desired, and if the faculty did not discover the 
matter and take action of their own then they might 
be able to say or do something to recall Peter John to 
himself. 

On the following day, however, their classmate did 
not appear, and in the days that followed he did not 
once come to their room. Mott they had seen, but he 
had only laughed lightly when he met them and made 
no reference to the ride he had taken in their carriage. 

“I don’t believe Peter John knows that we know 
anything about what happened on his trip,” said Fos- 
ter thoughtfully one day. 

‘ ‘ What makes him keep away from us all the time, 
then?” 

“That’s so. Probably his conscience isn’t in the 
best of condition. You don’t suppose he’s waiting for 
us to make the first move, do you ? ’ ’ 


190 


WINNING HIS 

‘‘ I don’t know.” 

“ I hate to leave the fellow to himself,” said Foster. 
** He’ll go to the dogs as sure as you’re born if he is.” 

If he isn’t there already.” 

“ Well, if he’s there we must help to get him out.” 

‘‘ You’re the one to do it, Foster. You aren’t work- 
ing up your Greek.” 

Will had been working with even greater intensity 
than before and was beginning to see the results of his 
labors. AYith his disposition there was no comparative 
degree. Everything was at one extreme or the other 
and now he was giving himself but little rest and even 
Peter John’s disgrace was not so keenly felt by him as 
at the time when it had occurred. 

“I think I’ll have to do something,” assented 
Foster, “ or at least try to.” 

But on the following day an excitement broke out 
among the students at Winthrop that speedily and 
completely banished from the minds of Will and Foster 
even their well-intended efforts to aid their weak and 
misguided classmate. 


CHAPTER XX 


AN ALARMING REPORT 



HE excitement first came to Will Phelps when one 


X night he was returning to his room from his din- 
ner in the fraternity house. The house, together with 
four or five other similar houses, was situated in the 
same street with the dormitory, but was distant a 
walk of seven or eight minutes, and there was usually 
a crowd of the college boys to be seen on the village 
street three times a day when they passed to or from 
their boarding places. 

On this particular evening Will chanced to be alone, 
and as he went on he perceived Mott approaching. He 
had had but little to say to the fellow since the esca- 
pade, and now as he recognized the sophomore his feel- 
ing of anger or disgust arose once more, and he was in- 
clined to pass him with only a light nod of recognition. 

But Mott was not to be so lightly turned aside or 
ignored, and as he saw Will he stopped, and his man- 
ner at once betrayed the excitement under which he 
was laboring. 

“ Have you heard the news, Phelps? ” he demanded. 

“I haven’t heard anything,” replied Will coldly. 

“You haven’t? Well, you ought to. It’s all over 
college now.” 


191 


192 


WINNING HIS 

“What’s all over college ? ” 

“ Why, the report of the typhoid.” 

“ What ? ’ ’ demanded Will, instantly aroused. 

‘ ‘ I mean what I say. And there are all sorts of 
reports about what’s to be done. Some say the fac- 
ulty have decided to shut up shop for a few weeks, and 
some say they’ve sent for experts, and I don’t know 
what all.” 

“ Who are the fellows that are down with it? ” 

‘ ‘ Schenck ’ ’ 

“ Peter John ? ” demanded Will sharply. 

“Yes, and there are seven others. He’s the only 
freshman ; there are two sophs, two juniors, and one 
senior. AYagner is the senior.” 

“ Where are they? ” 

“They’re all in the infirmary, and the whole shop 
has been quarantined.” 

‘ ‘ When was it found out ? ’ ’ 

“ Only to-day, this afternoon, I think. You see all 
eight have been under the weather for a while, and the 
doctor here thought it w^as first one thing that ailed 
them and then another. Last night or this morning 
they had a consultation, and decided that every one of 
the eight had typhoid fever. It’s a great go, isn’t it ? ” 

“ And you say Peter John is one? ” 

“Sure.” 

“Is he in the infirmary ? ” 

“ Yes, every one of them is there.” 

“ Is he very much sick ? ’ ’ 

“ Can’t tell yet, but he’s sick enough.” 


AN ALARMING REPORT 


193 


‘‘Can anybody see him?’’ inquired Will thought- 
fully. 

“ No. There isn’t any one allowed in the building 
except the nurses, doctors, and the families of the fel- 
lows, that is, when they come. I understand that word 
has been sent to all the families, and nurses have al- 
ready been engaged, and that some of them are on the 
ground now.” 

“It’s terrible ! ” said Will with a shudder. 

“ I know what I’m going to do,” said Mott glibly. 

“ What’s that? ” 

“I’m going home. Of course, the governor won’t 
believe me at first when I tell him why I’ve returned 
to the ancestral abode, but you may rest easy when he 
sees it in the papers, then he’ll believe it all right 
enough. Fine to have your daddy believe a lying 
newspaper before he takes the word of his own off- 
spring, isn’t it? ” 

“ May not be all his fault.” 

“ Yes, it is. I’d have been as decent a fellow as you 
or any fellow in college if I’d been treated half-way 
decently. But I wasn’t.” 

Will had his own ideas as to that, but he did not 
express them, for the full sense of the calamity of the 
college was now strongly upon him. Even the shadows 
of the great hills seemed to him to be more sombre than 
usual, and in whichever direction he looked there was 
an outer gloom corresponding to the one within. In 
the first shock of the report a nameless fear swept over 
him, and already he was positive that in his own case 
N 


194 


^INNING HIS 

he could discover certain symptoms that were the fore- 
runners of the dreaded disease. He hastily bade Mott 
good-night and ran all the way back to his room. 

Foster was already there, and at once he exclaimed : 

‘ ‘ Foster, have you heard about it ? ” 

“The typhoid? ” 

“Yes. They say Peter John and Wagner and six 
others are down with it. ’ ’ 

“It’s true.” 

“ What’s going to be done ? ” 

“ You mean what the college is going to do or what 
we’re to do ? ” 

“ Yes, that’s it. Both.” 

“ I’ve telephoned home,” said Foster quietly. 

“ You have? ” 

“Yes. I have just come back from the office.” 

‘ ‘ Did you telephone my father ? ’ ’ 

“No. I telephoned my father and told him to ring 
up your house.” 

“ And did he ? ” 

“Of course he did. ” 

“Did you hear anything — I mean ” 

“Now, look here. Will,” said Foster quietly. 
“ Don’t get rattled. I know it’s bad, but there isn’t 
any use in losing your head over it. I’ve been down 
to see the dean and have talked it over with him.” 

‘ * What did he have to say ? ’ ’ 

“ He said the report was true and the eight fellows 
were all down with the typhoid, and that every one of 
them had been taken to the infirmary. ’ ’ 


AN ALARMING REPORT 


195 


“What else?” demanded Will, his excitement in- 
creasing in spite of his effort to be calm. 

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, if you’ll give 
me half a chance. He said the president had sent for 
the best experts in the country, and that everything 
that it was possible to do would be done. He said too, 
that they would deal absolutely squarely with the boys, 
and if it was discovered that there was the least danger 
of it spreading they would tell us, and if necessary 
they’d close for a while till the whole thing had been 
ferreted out.” 

“ That’s square.” 

‘ ‘ Of course it is. ’ ’ 

“ What are you going to do, Foster ? ” 

“Nothing, that is, for a day or two anyway. I’ve 
told my father, and if he thinks I’d better come home 
he’ll say so.” 

“ But he may not know.” 

“ He will in a day or two.” 

‘ ‘ What are you going to do now ? ’ ’ 

“ Study my Greek.” 

“I ought to, but I’m going out for a little while. 
I’ve got to cool off a bit before I can settle down to 
work. ’ ’ 

“Don’t be gone long. You’ll only see the fellows 
and get stirred up all the more. I’d drop it and go to 
‘ boning.’ It’s the best cure.” 

“It is for a fellow like you, Foster. I can’t do it 
yet. I’ve got to get outdoors till I can get my breath 
again.” 


196 


WINNING HIS ^^W” 

Seizing his cap Will went out into the night. He 
passed by Leland Hall and glancing up discovered that 
there was a light in Peter John’s room. Instantly he 
entered the building and bounding up the stairway 
knocked on his classmate’s door, and* in response to the 
invitation entered and found Hawley within and alone. 

Hello, Hawley. What’s the news about Peter 
John?” 

“ Oh, he’s got it. Temperature a hundred and four 
and a half and all that sort of thing. ’ ’ 

Any idea where or how he got it ? ” 

“Not the least.” 

“Have you seen him ? ” 

“ Since he went to the infirmary ? Yes, once ; but 
I sha’n’t see him again till he comes out well or ” 

“ Is he the worst ? ’ ’ 

“No. Wagner seems to be the hardest hit, but they 
told me you couldn’t tell very much about it yet. Have 
to wait a few days anyway.” 

‘ ‘ Mott says he is going home. ’ ’ 

“Yes, there probably will be a lot of the fellows 
leaving by to-morrow.” 

“ Are you afraid ? ” 

“Some.” 

“ Going to leave? ” 

“ I’m going to wait a day or two and see what turns 
up before I decide just what I shall do.” 

On his way back to his room Will fell in with several 
others of his classmates, and the exciting conversation 
was repeated in each case until at last when he joined 


AN ALAKMING REPORT 


197 


Foster, whom he found still poring over his lesson in 
Greek for the morrow, his feelings were so overwrought 
that he was almost beside himself. 

“ Everybody’s going to leave, Foster,” he declared. 

*‘Not quite, for I’m not going yet myself.” 

“But ” Will ceased abruptly as he perceived 

that a messenger boy was standing in front of his door. 
Quickly seizing the envelope he perceived that it was 
directed to himself and instantly tearing it open he read : 

‘ ‘ If new cases develop within three days come home. 
Otherwise remain. Wire me daily. ’ ’ The message was 
signed by his father. 

“ That settles it ! ” exclaimed Will. “ I’m going to 
bed. Splinter will be easy on us to-morrow anyway.” 

Foster smiled as he shook his head and continued his 
own work, but his room-mate was not aware of either 
action. 

In chapel on the following morning the president of 
the college reiterated the statement which the dean 
already had made to Foster, and after trying to show 
the students that a panic was even more to be feared 
than the fever, and promising to keep them fully and 
frankly informed as to the exact status of afiairs, he 
dismissed them to their recitations, which it was under- 
stood were to be continued without interruption, at least 
for the present. 

In his Greek that day Will failed miserably and 
completely, and his anger at Splinter was intensified 
when the professor near the close of the recitation said : 

“ It is quite needless, I fawncy, for me to emphasize. 


198 


WINNING HIS 


V 

young gentlemen, the necessity there is at the present 
time for you all to adopt the utmost care in all matters 
pertaining especially to your health. I refer to you 
individually as well as collectively. My advice to you 
is to use only mineral water — I refer obviously to the 
water you drink — and it might be well to avoid the 
undue use of milk ’ ’ 

A shout of laughter interrupted the professor which 
caused his face to flush with anger and he arose abruptly 
from his seat, the signal that the class was dismissed. 

As Will, who was among the last to pass out, came 
near the desk the professor said to him, “ Mr. Phelps, 
I should be pleased if you would remain for a brief time. 
I should like exceedingly to have a word with you.” 

Accordingly, Will stood by the desk till all the class 
had passed out, and then the professor said, ‘‘ Ah, Mr. 
Phelps, would you kindly inform me what your opinion 
is as to the cause of the students receiving my remarks 
a few minutes ago with such an outburst of laughter ? 
I assure you I had not the least intention to say any- 
thing that should even appear to be liable to excite the 
mirth of the young gentlemen. I do not know that I 
was ever more serious in my entire life.” 

I think, professor, it was your reference to milk.” 

** Why should I not refer to it? In times of fear, 
when typhoid fever is — is — ah, at least somewhat feared, 
it is wise to be extremely cautious, and I have it on the 
authority of men of the highest reputation that milk is 
a medium through which the germs of the disease trans- 
mit themselves most readily.” 


AN ALAKMING KEPORT 


199 


“Yes, but you know, professor, the college is sup- 
posed to think the freshmen feed on milk. That’s sup- 
posed to be their diet. ’ ’ 

“Ah, yes,” replied the professor, smiling in a man- 
ner that proclaimed his entire inability to perceive the 
point. “That must be the point of the joke. Ah, 
yes. I see it distinctly now. It is very good ! It is 
very good, indeed ! ” 

‘ ‘ Professor, can you tell me my marks ? How am I 
doing in my Greek lately ? ’ ’ 

“ I am not supposed to reply to such a question from 
any of the young gentlemen, but I fawncy in a general 
way I may be able to respond to your query. Ah, 
yes,” he added, glancing at the page in the little book 
before him wherein Will’s record was contained, “ there 
is an improvement, not great, it is true, but still an 
improvement ; and if your work continues it will bring 
you almost up to the mark required.” 

“Almost?” exclaimed Will aghast. “You don’t 
mean to say, do you, Mr. Splinter ” 

“Mr. who ” demanded the professor, instantly rising 
and his face flushing again with anger. 


CHAPTER XXI 


A RARE INTERVIEW 

I NSTANTLY Will Phelps was overwhelmed with 
confusion. His face flushed crimson and his knees 
shook under the excitement which quickly seized upon 
him. The opprobrious title by which the Greek pro- 
fessor was known among the students and by which he 
was commonly spoken of by them had slipped from his 
tongue almost unconsciously. He stood staring stupidly 
into the professor’s face, while visions of expulsion and 
future difficulty flashed into his troubled mind. 

“ I beg your pardon, professor,” he managed to 
ejaculate at last. did not mean to say that. The 
word slipped out before I knew it. I am very sorry 
for it, for I certainly did not intend to be disrespectful 
in any way.” 

“You insulted me!” exclaimed the professor in a 
rage that under other circumstances would have seemed 
almost ludicrous to Will. It was like the anger of an 
infuriated canary bird or of some little child. 

“Then I want to apologize,” said Will quietly. 
“ As I said, I certainly did not intend to do anything 
of the kind.” 

“But you did,” persisted the outraged teacher. 
“You most assuredly did.” 

200 


A BARE INTERVIEW 


201 


‘ ‘ Can’ t you believe me when I say it was not inten- 
tional ? ’ ’ 

“That does not excuse it.” 

Will was silent, though his sorrow for the slip of his 
tongue was rapidly giving place to another and more 
pronounced feeling, and he was aware that unless he 
held his peace he would say something that might in- 
crease his chagrin and lead to further complications 
which would not easily be untangled. 

“ If I did right I should bring the matter up at the 
faculty meeting. It was bad enough when I was set 
upon and roughly, and, I may say, even brutally 
thrown to the ground the other evening, as you chanced 
to know. I trust that you have not referred to that 
matter in the presence of any one ? ’ ’ the professor in- 
quired, looking at the troubled student before him with 
an interest he was not able entirely to conceal as he 
spoke. 

“ Only to my room-mate.” 

“Which means that he has told some one else and 
the rumor by this time has gone throughout the col- 
lege. You recall what Virgil has to say concerning 
Fayna, do you not ? ’ ’ 

“I can’t say that I do.” 

‘ ‘ I have no time in which to quote it. I advise you 
to look it up, for it is a passage of rare beauty and 
power. Homer too is not entirely without reference to 
the malignity and power of the detested and detestable 
creature. There are various other classical authorities 
that have very powerful passages bearing somewhat 


202 


WINNING HIS 


)) 

upon the same topic, but I shall not be able to refer 
you to them at the present time, though if you will call 
upon me some evening I shall be very glad to direct 
you to them.” 

‘‘Thank you, professor.” 

‘ ‘ Ah, yes. I fawncy the tendency among the young 
gentlemen of the college is to bestow appellations upon 
the various members of the faculty that are not war- 
ranted.” 

“ I have heard some of them spoken of in that way, 
but I don’t think the fellows meant either to be disre- 
spectful or unkind,” said Will eagerly. 

“No, I fawncy it may in part be due to the thought- 
lessness of youth and I would not be unduly harsh with 
you after your ample apology. Then you have been 
accustomed to hear me myself referred to as Splinter, 
have you ? ’ ’ 

“I — yes — that is ” stammered Will. 

“ Precisely. Now what in your opinion is the basis 
upon which the students have added such a derisive 
epithet to my name ? ” 

Will was silent, though in spite of his efforts the 
expression of his face betrayed somewhat the feeling of 
blank amazement which possessed him. 

“ I fawncy I can trace its derivation,” said the pro- 
fessor simply. ‘ ‘ Doubtless when I first became a 
member of the faculty the appellation, or, let me see, 
is it an appellation or a cognomen, as you commonly 
have heard it ? ” 

“Yes, sir,” Will managed to respond. 


A RARE INTERVIEW 


203 


‘ ^ It is, then, as I fawucied, and doubtless was be- 
stowed upon me as indicative of my lack of avoirdupois. 
And it was not entirely unnatural that they should do 
so, for at the time when I came to Winthrop I was 
very slight, very slight indeed. The appellation, or 
cognomen, was without doubt given in recognition of 
that fact, a custom not unknown among the classical 
nations and one prevalent among the Hebrews and 
even among the Indians of America. The history of 
names would provide an exceedingly interesting field 
of study for you, Mr. Phelps.” 

Will bowed but did not speak, for he was afraid to 
interrupt or to divert the childlike man from the chan- 
nel in which his thoughts appeared to be running. 

“Such a name once given,” resumed the professor, 
“would doubtless cling to one long after physical changes 
had been made that would no longer afibrd an accurate 
basis for the nomenclature. But I was very slight, 
very slight indeed, Mr. Phelps, when I first came here 
some seventeen years ago, or, to be exact, seventeen 
years and four months, that is, four months lacking a 
few days. Why, I believe I weighed only one hundred 
and seventeen pounds at the time.” 

Will strove to be duly impressed by the fact, but as 
he looked at the man who was somewhat above six feet 
in height and whose body did not give many tokens of 
having increased materially in breadth or thickness 
since the time to which the professor referred, he found 
it extremely difiicult to repress the smile that rose to 
his lips. 


204 


WINNING HIS 

“Yes,” resumed the professor quickly, “I have 
increased in weight since that time, but the appellation 
still clings and doubtless will as long as I remain in 
Winthrop.” 

‘ ‘ How much do you weigh now, professor ? ’ ^ The 
moment Will asked the question he regretted it, but 
the temptation was too strong to be resisted. 

‘ ‘ I cannot say exactly, ’ ’ said the professor in some 
confusion, “but my weight has very materially in- 
creased. If I recall aright, the last time when I was 
weighed I had added two and three-quarters pounds. 
It is true it was in the winter and doubtless heavier 
clothing may have slightly modified the result. But 
still I can safely affirm that I am much heavier than I 
was at the time when I joined the Winthrop faculty.” 

“ Do you find that you feel better now that you are 
more corpulent ? I have heard it said that addition to 
the body is subtraction from the brain. Do you think 
that is BO, professor ? ’ * 

“ It is true, most assuredly. All classical literature 
confirms the statement you have just made.” 

‘ ‘ Then you don’ t believe in athletics, do you, pro- 
fessor ? ’ ’ 

“Assuredly not. Most assuredly not.” 

“ But didn’t the ancient Greeks have their race- 
courses? Didn’t they believe in running and jumping 
and boxing and I don’t know what all ? ” 

“ That is true, but the times were very different then . 
They had not in the least lost the sense of the poetry of 
life. They were not so crassly or grossly materialistic 


A RARE INTERVIEW 


205 


as the present age undoubtedly is. Every grove Avas 
peopled with divinities, every mountain was the abode 
of the unseen. Why, Mr. Phelps, the Greeks were 
the only people that ever lived that looked upon moun- 
tains as anything but blots or defects.’^ 

“ Is that so?” inquired Will in surprise. 

“It certainly is. It is true that since the days of 
the poet Gray there has been a tendency among English- 
speaking people to affect a veneration for the moun- 
tains, but it is, I fawncy, only a faint echo of the old 
Greek conception and is a purely superficial product of 
an extremely superficial age and people.” 

“Didn’t the Hebrews have a feeling like the one 
you tell of? Isn’t there a psalm that begins ‘ I will 
lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence com- 
eth my help’? Didn’t they describe the high hills 
that were round about Jerusalem ? ’ ’ 

“Ah, yes. That is true,” assented the professor in 
some confusion. “ I had not thought of it in that 
light precisely. You have given me a new insight to- 
day, Mr. Phelps. I shall at once go over my data 
again. I am grateful to you for acceding to my 
request to remain to-day.” 

“But, professor,” persisted Will, “ what about my 
work in Greek? I’ve had a tutor ever since you told 
me to get one and I’ve been Avorking hard too. To- 
day I didn’t do very well, but I Av^as so excited about 
the fever, for Peter John — I mean Schenck — is one of 
the fellows to come doAvn with it, you know, and we’ve 
been telephoning and telegraphing home ” 


206 


WINNING HIS ‘^W^^ 

“Ah, yes. But you heard my remarks to-day con- 
cerning the necessity of increased work in Greek as a 
preventive, did you not?” 

“ I did. But, professor, I’m willing to work. If 
I’m to be shut out of the exam — I mean the examina- 
tion — as you seem to think I will, anyway, I don’t see 
any use in my trying any more.” 

The expression on the professor’s face became in- 
stantly harder as he said, “ I fawncy the effort to curry 
favor with the various members of the faculty is not 
very popular with the student body.” 

“Do you think I’m trying to ‘bootlick’?” de- 
manded Will quickly. 

“ I look upon that term as somewhat objectionable, 
but I fawncy in the vernacular of college life it is one 
that is quite expressive.” 

“I’m not trying to bootlick you or any other pro- 
fessor ! ” retorted Will, now feeling angry and insulted 
as well. “ I didn’t stay here to-day because I wanted 
to. You yourself asked me to do it. And I asked 
you a perfectly fair question. I knew I hadn’t been 
doing very well, but after I saw you I’ve been trying, 
honestly trying, to do better. And all the encourage- 
ment you give me is to say that if I work harder I may 
almost come up to the passing mark.” 

“ Pardon me, Mr. Phelps, but you are the one to 
change your record, not I. All I do is merely to jot 
down what you have been doing. I do not do the work 
— I merely record it.” 

For a moment Will Phelps was almost speechless 


A RARE INTERVIEW 


207 


with anger. He felt outraged and insulted in every 
fibre of his being. He hastily bade the professor good- 
morning, and, seizing his cap, rushed for his room, a 
great fear being upon him that unless he instantly de- 
parted he would say or do something for which he 
would have a lifelong regret. 

As he burst into his room he found Foster already 
there, and, flinging his books savagely across the room. 
Will seated himself in his easy -chair and glared at his 
room-mate. 

“ Why ? What’s wrong ? What’s happened, Will ? ” 
demanded Foster, in astonishment. 

Oh, I’ve just had another delightful interview with 
old Splinter. He’s the worst I ever struck yet ! ” 

“Did you strike him. Will?” inquired Foster, a 
smile of amusement appearing on his face. 

“ No, but I’d like to ! His soul would get lost in 
the eye of a needle I He’s the smallest specimen I 
have ever run up against. He may know Greek, but 
he doesn’t know anything else. I never in all my life 


“ Tell me about it. Will,” interrupted Foster. 

Thus bidden. Will related the story of his interview 
with his professor of Greek. When Foster laughed as 
he told of Splinter’s description of his marvelously 
increased corpulence. Will did not join, for the ludi- 
crous side now was all swallowed up in his anger. And 
when his room-mate scowled as he heard of the pro- 
fessor’s insinuation that the young freshman was try- 
ing to “bootlick,” Will’s anger broke forth afresh. 


208 


WINNING HIS 

“What’s the use in my trying, I’d like to know ?” he 
demanded. “I’ve never tried harder in my life than 
I have for the last three or four weeks. And what 
does old Splinter have to say about it? ‘Oh, I’m 
doing better and if I keep on I’ll almost come up to 
the passing mark ! ’ I tell you, it isn’t fair ! It isn’t 
right ! He’s just determined to put me out ! ” 

“ Perhaps he thinks he’s bound to stick to the marks 
he’s given you before.” 

“Yes, that’s it. But think of it, Foster. Here I 
am doing better and putting in my best work. And 
the old fellow acknowledges it too, for he says so him- 
self. But what does it all amount to? He doesn’t 
give me any credit for what I’ve been doing lately. 
No, he’s just tied up to the marks I got at the begin- 
ning of the year. What fairness is there in that, I’d 
like to know ? That’s the way they do in State’s prison, 
but I didn’t suppose old Winthrop was built exactly 
on that plan. I thought the great point here was to 
wake a man up and inspire him to try to do better and 
all that sort of thing. And I am doing better, and I 
know it, and so does he, but his soul is so dried up and 
withered that he can’t think of anything but ancient 
history. He hasn’t the least idea of what’s going on 
here to-day. I’ll bet the old fellow, when he has the 
toothache, groans in dactylic hexameters and calls for 
his breakfast in the Ionic dialect. Bah ! What’s all 
the stuff good for anyway ? I haven’ t any reason for 
trying any more.” 

“Yes, you have.” 


A RARE INTERVIEW 


209 


** I have ? Well, what is it ? ” 

“ Your father, if nothing else.” 

Will instantly became silent, for Foster’s words only 
seemed to call up before him the vision of his father’s 
face. He was the best man that had ever lived, Will 
declared to himself, and his conviction had been strength- 
ened as he had seen the relations between many of his 
college mates and their fathers. How he would be 
grieved over it all. And yet Will knew that never an 
unkind word would be spoken. It was almost more 
than he could bear, he thought, and his eyes were glis- 
tening when he arose from his seat to respond to a knock 
on the door. As he opened it he saw standing before 
him his own father and the father of Peter John Schenck, 
and with a yell of delight he grasped his father’s out- 
stretched hand and pulled him hastily into the room. 


o 


CHAPTER XXII 


A CKISIS 

I N response to Will’s eager questions, Mr. Phelps ex- 
plained that he had come to Winthrop to satisfy 
himself as to the exact status as to the fever that had 
broken out. Before he had come up to AVill’s room he 
had consulted the college officials and now felt that he 
was in a position to decide calmly what must be done 
by his son. 

“ And what’s the verdict ? ” inquired Will. 

“ It will not be necessary for you to return. I think 
everything is being done that ought to be and though 
we shall be anxious, still I am not unduly alarmed. I 
have confidence in you. Will, and I am sure you will 
not be careless in a time like this. The president 
informs me that there have not been any new cases since 
the first outbreak, and he is of the opinion that all these 
cases were due to one cause and that was found outside 
of the village.” 

‘‘ Then you don’t want me to go home with you? ” 
inquired Will quizzically. 

“What I might ‘want’ and what is best are two 
different matters,” said his father with a smile. “ Just 
at present what I want and what you need happen to 
be one and the same thing.” 

210 


A CRISIS 


211 


“ What’s that? ” 

“Your Greek.” 

Will’s face clouded and then unmindful of the others 
who were in the room he told his father of his recent 
interview with his professor of Greek. The smile of 
amusement on the face of Mr. Phelps when Will began 
soon gave way to an expression of deep concern. To 
Will, who understood him so thoroughly, it was evident 
that his father was angry as well as disappointed, and 
for a moment there was a feeling of exultation in his 
own heart. Now something would be done, he felt con- 
fident, and the injustice under which he was laboring 
and suffering would be done away. 

“Your other work is all right. Will? ” inquired his 
father after a brief silence. 

‘ ‘ Oh, yes ! Fine ! If old Splinter was only half the 
man that Professor Sinclair is, there wouldn’t be a bit 
of trouble. Why the recitation in Latin never seems 
to be more than fifteen minutes long. But the Greek 
— bah ! The hour is like a week of Sundays ! ” 

“Still, Will, there is only one way out of it for 
you.” 

“ I suppose so,” responded Will his heart sinking as 
he spoke. 

“ Yes, it must be faced. I know it’s hard, but you 
can’t get around it. Will, and I’m sure you don’t want 
to run from it. As I told you, it isn’t as if your Greek 
professor was the only one of his kind you will meet in 
life, for his name is legion and you will find him every- 
where. The only thing for you to do is to keep on 


212 WINNING HIS 

with your tutor and prove yourself to be the master. 
If you do that, the experience, hard as it is, may prove 
to be one of the best that could come to you.” 

Will was silent for a moment before he spoke, and 
then he said impulsively, “Well, pop, I suppose you 
are right. I’ll do my best.” 

“ Of course you will,” responded his father quietly, 
though his eyes were shining. ‘ ‘ It isn’t so hard for 
you as it is for Mr. Schenck.” 

“ Is Peter John worse ? ” inquired Will quickly. 

“Yes.” 

“Isn’t there something we can do?” said Will 
eagerly. 

“No, nothing,” said Mr. Schenck. “My boy is 
very sick, but all we can do is to wait. He is having 
good care. The only comfort I have is what they tell 
me about him and what he has been doing since he 
came to college. ” 

Both boys looked up quickly, but neither spoke and 
Mr. Schenck continued. “Yes, there’s a young man I 
have met since I’ve been here who has told me many 
things about my boy that comfort me now very much.” 

“Was it Mott? ” interrupted Will. 

“Yes, that was his name. You know him too, I 
see. He seems to be a very fine young man. He told 
me that Peter was one of the leaders in his class, and 
that everybody in the college knew him. He said too, 
that he had won his numerals — though I don’t just 
understand what that means.” 

‘ ‘ It means that he has the right to wear the number 


A CRISIS 


213 


of his class on his cap or sweater,” said Will. “That’s 
more than I’ve won.” He had not the heart to unde- 
ceive the unhappy man, though both he and Foster 
were aware that Mott had been overstating the facts in 
his desire to comfort Peter John’s father. 

“ Well, I hope he’ll get well,” said Mr. Schenck with 
a heavy sigh, “ though it does seem as if such things 
always happened to the brightest boys. I’m going to 

stay here for a few days till I know he’s better or ’ ’ 

The sentence was not completed and for a time there 
was a tense silence in the room. 

At last the men departed, Mr. Schenck to go to his 
son’s room where he was to sleep while he remained in 
Winthrop, and Mr. Phelps to the station where he was 
to take the train for his home. Will accompanied his 
father, but the subject that was uppermost in the mind 
of each was not referred to for there are times when 
silence is golden. 

In the days that followed, Will Phelps worked as he 
never had worked before in all his brief life. His dis- 
taste for the Greek and dislike of the professor were as 
strong as before, and at times it almost seemed to him 
that he could no longer continue the struggle. His 
sole inspiration was in the thought of his father and in 
his blind determination not to be mastered. 

An additional element of gloom in those days were 
the reports that came from the infirmary of the con- 
dition of Peter John. All the other patients appeared 
to be doing well, but the daily word from the watchers 
by Peter John’s bedside was that he w’as worse. A 


214 


WINNING HIS 

pall seemed to be resting over the entire college. The 
noisy songs and boisterous shouts were not heard in the 
dormitories nor upon the campus. 

A part of the general anxiety was gone when as the 
days passed there were no reports of new cases devel- 
oped, but the fear of what was to be the issue in the 
case of Peter John was in every heart — even with those 
who had not exchanged a word with him since he had 
entered Winthrop. 

Will Phelps found himself even wondering how it 
was that the ‘ ‘ old grads ’ ’ when they returned always 
spoke in such enthusiastic terms of their own college 
days. How they laughed and slapped one another on 
the back as they recalled and recounted their exploits. 
It was Will’s conviction that those days must have been 
markedly different from those through which he was 
passing, for he was finding only hard work and much 
trouble, he dolefully assured himself. He was too 
inexperienced to understand that one is never able to 
see clearly the exact condition of present experiences. 
There is then no perspective, and the good and evil, 
the large and small, are strangely confused. It is like 
the figures in a Chinese picture wherein the background 
and foreground, the little and the big, are much the 
same in their proportions. Only when a man looks 
back and beholds the events of the bygone days in their 
true perspective is he able to form a correct estimate of 
the relative values. Even Will Phelps would not have 
believed that there might come a day when the very 
struggle he was having in mastering his Greek would 


A CRISIS 


215 


be looked upon by him as not unpleasant in the larger 
light in which all his college days would be viewed. 

Mr. Schenck still remained in Winthrop, and his 
face every morning when Will went to inquire about 
Peter John was a sure indication of the report which 
was to be made even before a word had been spoken. ♦ 
Steadily lower and lower sank the freshman, who was 
desperately ill, until at last the crisis came, and with 
the passing of the day the issue of life or death would 
be determined. 

In the interval between his recitations Will ran to 
see the suffering man and learn how the issue was 
going, and when at last the word was received that 
Peter John, if no relapse occurred, was likly to recover, 
he felt as if a great load had been lifted from his mind. 

It was his first experience with the deep tragedy that, 
like a cloud, rests over all mankind, and in the glim- 
mer of hope that now appeared it seemed to him that 
all things appeared in a new light. Even his detested 
Greek was not quite so bad as it previously had been, 
and in the reaction that came Will bent to his distaste- 
ful task with a renewed determination. 

When several weeks had elapsed, and the time of 
the Christmas vacation was near, for the first time Will 
was permitted to enter the room where Peter John was 
sitting up in bed. It was difficult for Will to hide the 
shock that came when he first saw his classmate, his 
face wasted till it almost seemed as if the bones must 
protrude, his head shaved, and his general weakness so 
apparent as to be pathetic. 


216 


WINNING HIS 

Striving to conceal liis real feelings and to appear 
bright and cheery, Will extended his hand and said 
nervously : “ I’m mighty glad to see you, Peter John, 
and so will all the fellows be. I don’t think you’ve 
taken the best way of getting a vacation.” 

Peter John smiled in a way that almost brought the 
tears to Will’s eyes, and said, “I’m much obliged to 
you. Will.” 

“No, you’re not. We’re all much obliged to you 
for getting well. I don’t know what the track team 
would have done without you.” 

“Guess I won’t bother the track team this year. 
That’s what the doctor says.” 

“Oh, well,” said Will hastily, “that won’t make 
any difference. You’ll be all right for another year 
and that will do just as well.” 

“ Say, Will,” said Peter after a brief pause : 

“ What is it? ” inquired Will kindly. 

“ There’s something I want to say to you.” 

“Say it, then,” laughed Will. 

“I’m never going to touch a drop again.” 

“That’s all right. Of course you won’t,” assented 
Will cordially. 

“And, Will ” 

“Yes?” 

“ I’m not going to have anything charged up to you 
any more. ’ ’ 

“‘Anything charged up to me ’ ? I don’t know 
what you mean.” 

“ I mean those cakes and pies I had charged to you 


A CRISIS 


217 


down at Tommie’s.” “Tommie” was the name by 
which the proprietor of one of the little restaurants and 
bakeshops in Winthrop was familiarly called by the 
college boys. 

“ I didn’t know you had anything charged to me.” 

“You didn’t?” 

“No. I haven’t had any bill for it, anyway.” 

“ You’ll get it. You’ll have one,” said Peter John 
nodding his head decidedly. “I don’t know what I 
ever did it for anyway. At first I thought it was a 
good joke on you. M — some of the fellows said it 
would be. And then somehow I kept it up.” 

“ Never mind, Peter John. I’ll fix it. It’ll be all 
right. ’ ’ 

“Did you tell my father?” inquired Peter John 
anxiously. 

“No. I haven’t told him anything.” 

“ I’m glad. I lost some money on that trip with the 
football team, AVill.” 

‘ ‘ How much ? ’ ’ 

“ Seven dollars and a half. It was all I’d got.” 

“Do you want ” Will started to take out his 

pocketbook, but stopped abruptly, for he was not cer- 
tain just how Peter John might receive his offer. He 
did not see the light that came for a moment into his 
classmate’s eyes or the look of disappointment that 
quickly followed it. 

“I’m never going to bet any more,” remarked Peter 
John simply. 

“ Of course not.” 


218 


WINNING HIS ^^W” 

But my money is gone and I sha’nH be able to pay 
for those things I had charged to you at Tommie’s, as 
I fully meant to.” 

“ Never mind that.” 

“ I’m going to study harder too.” 

“Not just yet. I shouldn’t bother my head about 
such things now, Peter John. Wait till you are up and 
around before you do that.” 

“ I’m afraid that’ll be a long time.” 

“No. Oh no, it won’t,” said Will cheerily. 
“ You’ll be all right before you know it.” 

Peter John shook his head and was about to reply, 
when Mott entered the room and at the same time the 
physician also came. The latter glanced keenly at his 
patient, and then said to the visitors, ‘ ‘ That’s enough 
this time, boys. You’d better cut it short now and 
come again.” 

Will and Mott at once departed after bidding Peter 
John good-bye, and when they were out on the side- 
walk Mott began to laugh. 

“What’s struck you? I don’t see anything so 
very funny,” said Will irritated by his companion’s 
manner. 

“Peter John has made a clean breast of it.” 

‘ ‘ What of it ? ” 

“ Oh, nothing much. Only when the ‘ devil was sick 
the devil a monk would be.’ You know the words 
probably. It strikes me as absolutely funny. ” 

“I don’t see anything to laugh about,” retorted 
Will warmly. 


A CKISIS 


219 


You wait and maybe you will later, Phelps. Tra, 
la, freshman ! ” and Mott abruptly departed. 

His words, however, still lingered in Will’s mind, 
and throughout the evening the jingling rhyme that 
the sophomore had repeated kept running through his 
thoughts. 


CHAPTER XXIII 


A MISHAP WITH SKEES 

T he days that followed were somewhat dreary and 
monotonous for the troubled young freshman whose 
fortunes we have been following. The leaves had long 
since fallen from the trees and the winds that swept 
through the peaceful valley increased the sense of lone- 
liness that the barren aspect presented. The novelty 
of the new surroundings was all gone now, and to Will 
it seemed as if there was but little to look forward to 
except the vacation time when once more he would 
have a few days in his home. Visions of Sterling and 
of his father’s house were with him all the time now, 
and he had even calculated the exact number of hours 
that must elapse before he would depart from Winthrop 
on what he was positive would prove to be the most 
welcome journey of his life. 

All these things, however, had not caused Will Phelps 
to swerve from his purpose. He was impulsive, heed- 
less, and thoughtless in many ways ; but there was not 
a cowardly element in his entire make-up. He might 
rebel but he would not run. He might be homesick 
and cast down, but he had no thought of yielding. 
His Greek was distasteful, and he, in his heart, thought 
he was justified in despising the teacher in that depart- 
220 


MISHAP WITH SKEES 


221 


ment ; but not once did it even occur to him to evade, 
or ‘ ‘ dodge, ’ * as he himself expressed it, the issue that 
had been presented. His dislike for the subject in 
which he was most deficient increased with the passing 
days, but he did not relax his efibrts in the least. 
Nothing was permitted to interfere with the appoint- 
ments he made with his tutor, and he could see that he 
was making some progress, but for the most part as he 
declared laughingly the subject was still “ all Greek ” 
to him. 

Quietly and without any word on his part, even to 
his room-mate, he was also preparing for the running 
contest in the coming spring. The two ends he was 
most eager to gain now were to “ pass ” in his Greek 
and to secure a place on the Winthrop track team. 
Indeed, now to fail in either would be a disappoint- 
ment so keen that he did not dare contemplate such an 
issue, though it was true that with his eager disposition 
he seldom dwelt long upon that possibility. 

Peter John Schenck and the other victims of the 
fever had long since gone to their homes to recover 
from the effects of their illness, and Wagner, the cap- 
tain of the track team, it was reported was about to 
return to college, his sickness having been the lightest 
of all. The “ scare ” had vanished and now was one 
of the dim and indistinct memories of college days. 

Snow had fallen early in Winthrop, and in the first 
part of December the ground was covered to the depth 
of several inches. Will had just completed his daily 
task with his tutor one day when Mott burst into his 


222 


WINNING HIS 


room his face glowing and his entire bearing expressive 
of the exhilaration he felt at the time. 

“ Come on, Phelps,” he said enthusiastically. 
** Come out and try the skees. ” 

“I never had one on in my life,” replied Will, 
nevertheless rising and turning eagerly toward his 
visitor. 

“ That doesn’t make any difference. There always 
has to be a first time, you know. Every fellow in 
Winthrop has to learn or he loses half the fun of his 
college course. Come along.” 

“ I haven’t any skees.” 

“I have.” 

“ I don’t want to take your pair. ” 

“Don’t worry, freshman,” laughed Mott. “Pm 
not a philanthropist. You needn’t worry any about me. 
I have two pairs. ” 

“All right!” responded Will, quickly seizing his 
cap and gloves. “ Where are you going? ” 

“ Right up here on the hill back of Leland.” 

‘ ‘ In the street ? ’ ’ 

“ Yes, it’s better for a fellow to learn there.” 

There was an expression in Mott’s eyes that led Will 
to believe that there might be other motives in the 
sophomore’s mind than merely to select a convenient 
place for the freshman to learn the use of the skees, 
but he was so eager to try that even his suspicions were 
banished and in a brief time he was walking beside 
Mott on their way to the meeting-place. As he ap- 
proached he could see that several were already there 


223 


A MISHAP WITH SKEES 

before him, and as he gained the summit of the little 
hill he recognized the students as members of Mott’s 
class. He was convinced now that the motive which 
had induced Mott to invite him was none other than 
‘ to have some fun with the freshman ’ ; but he grimly 
resolved not to falter now and resolutely determined to 
do his best. 

And it looked so easy. He stood for a few moments 
and watched the students as they sped down the street. 
The skees were about seven feet in length and not more 
than three or three and a half inches wide, while the 
thickness at no place was greater than three-quarters of 
an inch. Strapped upon the feet of the boys they ap- 
peared unwieldy and ungainly, but the students sped 
down the hillside so easily and gracefully with them 
that Will’s eagerness to try them soon overmastered 
all other feelings. 

‘ ‘ Ever try the skees before, Phelps ? ’ ’ inquired one 
of the sophomores pleasantly. 

“ Never.” 

“ It’s great fun. I suppose if one wanted to see the 
game at its best he ought to go to Norway or Sweden. 
But, as it isn’t exactly convenient to do that to-day, 
we’ll have to do the next best thing and try it here. 
Here’s a picture in one of the magazines I brouglit 
along that shows how they do it up in the Scandinavian 
peninsula.” The young man drew from his pocket a 
copy of a recent issue of one of the current magazines 
and opened it at a page where there was a picture of a 
great crowd assembled on a snow-clad hillside. King 


224 


WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

Oscar and numbers of the nobility could be discerned 
in the foreground, but the chief object of interest was 
the figure of a man leaping high in the air, with skees 
on his feet, and evidently performing a trick that was 
greatly impressive to the assembled multitude. 

“ That fellow made a leap of ninety feet,” explained 
the sophomore. “ Just think of it ! That’s as far as 
from the home plate to first base. ’ ’ 

“ I don’t see how he did it,” murmured Will, deeply 
interested in the picture. 

“ Why, they had a pile of fir boughs covered with 
snow up there on the side of that hill and every con- 
testant — you see they were in a prize contest — slid over 
it and got his start there. It must have been almost 
like a springboard. You’ll feel just as if you were fly- 
ing, Phelps, when you try it.” 

“ How about the lighting? ” laughed Will. 

” Oh, you won’t try the leaping first. You have to 
get used to the skees and the sliding first. All that 
will come later.” 

“I’m afraid it isn’t all that will come later, either.” 

“Well, try it, anyway. Here’s Mott with your 
skees.” 

Will took his stand at the top of the little hill and 
directly in the street, and the skees were at once 
strapped upon his feet. Will was aware that all the 
students had for the time given up their sport and were 
standing near him, while the expression upon their faces 
required no interpretation. He understood clearly that 
they were expecting an entertainment that would be 


A MISHAP WITH SKEES 


225 


highly pleasing and unique, and that his venture was 
expected to provide the means. His heart was beating 
fast, and he knew that he was keenly excited, but his 
manner and bearing were quiet and he had nothing to 
say except to ask one or two questions. 

All ready ? ” inquired Mott. 

“ All ready, responded Will. 

A violent push by the sophomore almost sent Will 
headlong, but he somehow contrived to regain his bal- 
ance, and then he was aware that he was darting with 
ever increasing swiftness down the course. His knees 
were trembling and there was a strange and unaccount- 
able tendency on the part of his feet to go in different 
directions, but still he did not fall. He knew that he 
did not have much control over the direction he was to 
follow, but fortunately for him he had been headed 
directly down the snow-covered sidewalk, and if he 
could only retain his upright position he would be able 
to cover the course. He could hear the shouts of en- 
couragement or bantering behind him, but now they had 
no effect upon him. His eyes were fastened upon the 
street before him; and he was wondering what he should 
do if he passed safely down the hillside and came to the 
grade up which he must go a little farther on. 

Before the question could be decided he had made 
the descent and was already on the ascent of the oppo- 
site hill. His speed suddenly slackened, his balance 
was destroyed, and after one or two frantic efforts to 
regain his equilibrium, and much waving of his arms, 
he shot headforemost into the snow near the sidewalk, 
p 


226 


WINNING HIS ‘‘W 




Instantly he clambered to his feet again, and waving 
his hands to the crowd that had greeted his downfall 
with a shout of delight, he at once began to retrace his 
way to the point from which he had started. He had 
done w^ell, he felt assured, and his tumble at the end 
had by no means been awkward or disgraceful. 

“ Good for you, Phelps ! You did mighty well for 
a freshman ! ’ ’ said Mott, as he prepared to give him 
another start. 

“No, thank you,” said Will quickly, as Mott was 
about to send him forcefully down the course again. 
“I’ll look after myself.” 

In his haste to avoid the impetus the sophomore was 
about to give and which Will knew this time would be 
by no means gentle, he began to slide. His feet, how- 
ever, were too far apart to enable him to do as he 
planned, and he hastily turned into the snow where he 
fell, but by no means awkwardly. 

Again he retraced his way, but before Mott could 
again push him, even before he had gained the top of 
the hill he began the descent, and this time retained his 
position until the ascent of the opposite hill brought 
him to a standstill. This time there were no shouts to 
greet him, and when he retraced his way he grimly per- 
ceived that the sophomores were waiting to relieve him 
of his skees. Their ‘ ‘ expected fun with the freshman ” 
had failed to materialize. 

Without a word Will again descended the hillside. 
He was enjoying the sport immensely, but his keenest 
pleasure was in the thought that the wily sophomores 





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“ ‘ Look out ! Look out ! ’ 
called Will sharply.” 

Page 227. 


A MISHAP WITH SKEES 


227 


who had expected to rejoice over his downfall were now 
all standing about eager to take his skees and enter 
into the sport themselves. There was only one pair 
besides those he had strapped upon his feet, and it 
did not detract from his enjoyment to know that he 
was depriving his would-be tormentors of the sport they 
had come to enjoy. 

‘‘Mighty good of you, fellows, to let me use these 
skees,” he shouted as he began his fifth descent, and as 
he sped swiftly onward he was aware that no response 
was given to his call. 

Suddenly a shout of warning came from the crowd 
behind him. It was impossible for Will to turn to see 
what the sharp call might mean, but in an instant he 
perceived what the warning was for. Coming directly 
up the path was a man with several books under one 
arm and his head buried in the pages of another, which 
he was holding directly before his face. 

‘ ‘ Look out ! Look out ! ’ ’ called Will sharply, striv- 
ing desperately at the same time to change slightly the 
direction in which he now was moving with increasing 
swiftness. 

Despite his efforts he was unable to change his course. 
The skees were moving as if they were held fast in 
grooves, and again his warning cry rang out sharply. 
“Look out! Look out I” he shouted ; but the man 
did not once look up, and still appeared to be oblivious 
to all save the pages of the book he was reading. 

Will was now distant from him only four yards, and 
a groan escaped his lips when in a flash he recognized 


228 


WINDING HIS 

the man as the professor of Greek. There was no avoid- 
ing the collision now, but in the brief intervening in- 
stant Will Phelps had visions of being sent home in 
disgrace. He could even see the grief of his father 
when he should come home with the report of his sus- 
pension or expulsion. Doubtless Splinter would think 

he had acted with malice aforethought, and 

The vision departed as the crash of the collision 
came. In his efforts to change his course. Will had 
loosened one of the straps by which the skee on his 
right foot was bound, and now he could feel that what 
slight control he had had was all gone. He bent low 
his head and closed his eyes in sheer desperation. Even 
then the collision occurred. He felt rather than saw 
that the man had been lifted into the air, but instantly 
he himself was thrown to the ground and was rolling, 
tumbling, sprawling on his way toward the bottom of 
the hill. 


CHAPTER XXIV 


A MEMORABLE INTERVIEW 



lONFUSED, bruised by his fall as well as by the 


VJ collisioD, the sense of what had occurred was 
nevertheless uppermost in the mind of Will Phelps as 
he struggled to his feet. The skees were instantly torn 
away and unmindful of his own suffering he hastened 
to the spot where the professor was lying, apparently 
not having made any attempt to rise. From the top 
of the hill he could see that some of the crowd that 
had assembled there were hastening to the aid of the 
fallen man, but before they arrived Will had grasped the 
professor by the arm and was doing his utmost to help. 

‘‘Are you badly hurt, professor?^’ he inquired 
anxiously. “It was all a mistake, and I am more 
sorry than I can tell you. I ought not to have been 
skeeing on the street anyway. I couldn’t steer myself. 
I trust you were not injured. Where were you hurt? 
What can I do for you ? ’ ’ 

In response to Will’s somewhat disconnected and in- 
coherent inquiries the professor was groaning and only 
uttering an inarticulate “ Oh ! oh-h ! o-oh ! ” Will 
was horrified to perceive that blood was trickling down 
the man’s face, and he soon saw that it was coming 
from his nose. For a moment a wild fear possessed 


229 


230 


WINNING HIS 

him. Had he killed the man ? Was there some serious 
and internal injury? What would the college have to 
say about it ? 

Anxious and distressed, he at last succeeded in lifting 
the man to his feet just as the other students joined him. 
And it was a sorry spectacle which the professor pre- 
sented. His face was streaked with blood, his head 
was rolling from side to side, and all the time the piti- 
ful groaning did not cease. 

“ Go and get a doctor,” suggested some one. 

‘‘No, get a carriage and take him home,” said 
another. 

“ Here’s a sled ; we’ll put him on that and draw 
him,” said a third, whose word was at once acted upon. 

“You fellows take him home and I’ll run for the 
doctor,” almost shouted Will, whose anxiety now was 
nearly beyond bounds. Leaving his comrades he ran 
swiftly to the office of one of the village physicians, 
and to his delight discovered that he was there. 

It was but the work of a moment to inform him of 
what had befallen the professor, and he at once set forth 
with Will to the professor’s house. When they arrived 
they perceived that the unfortunate teacher had already 
been carried into the house, and in his eagerness to 
assist Will followed the physician into the room where 
the professor was stretched upon a bed, still keeping up 
his pathetic moaning. 

Not a word was spoken while the doctor was making 
his examination. Will watched the expression upon 
his face hoping to discover how seriously he had injured 


A MEMORABLE INTERVIEW 


231 


the man. The tense silence was unbroken until at last 
the doctor said : 

“ Let him lie quietly where he is and take some of 
this every half-hour. Follow the directions carefully/’ 
he added as he placed a small bottle in the hands of the 
professor’s wife. She, poof woman, had been well-nigh 
distracted by the excitement and fear, and had been 
fluttering about the bed wringing her hands and con- 
tinually ejaculating, “Poor dear ! Oh, poor man.” 

As the physician, who was a somewhat gruff* man in 
his words and bearing, though as tender-hearted as a 
woman in his inner feelings, gave her the directions she 
said with a sob, “ Oh, will he die, doctor? ” 

“ Some time. Everybody has to.” 

“ But now ? Is he fatally injured ? ” 

“He’s still breathing, isn’t he? He can make him- 
self heard anyway. ’ ’ The professor was still moaning 
and rolling his head from side to side on the pillow. 

* ‘ Do you consider him in any immediate danger ? ’ ’ 
she said. 

“Give him good care. Don’t talk to him and be 
sure to follow out my directions, and I’ll be back again 
soon. But don’t talk to him. He needs absolute 
quiet. I’ll be in again in a few hours.” 

As the doctor prepared to depart Will first volun- 
teered his services to the trembling woman, who thanked 
him for his kindness but evidently did not comprehend 
what he was saying, and then he took his cap and fol- 
lowed the physician out upon the street. “ Do you 
think he’s badly hurt, doctor? ” he inquired anxiously. 


232 


WINNING HIS 


“No/’ replied the doctor gruffly. 

A feeling of intense relief swept over Will’s heart, 
and the doctor smiled grimly as he said, “ Then you’re 
the chap that tumbled him over, are you ? ’ ’ 

“Yes. But it was an accident. I couldn’t stop and 
ran plump into him. I’m all cut up about it.’’ 

“ Young man, don’t you know it’s anarchy to ignore 
the laws and abuse the offlcials of the college? ” 

“Yes. I suppose it is,” replied Will humbly. 
“ But I didn’t mean to do it. ” 

‘ ‘ Then you had no grudge against him ? ’ ’ 

“ No — that is — I didn’t exactly — I mean ” 

‘ ‘ I understand you perfectly, ’ ’ said the doctor, his 
eyes twinkling and the corners of his mouth jerking 
slightly as he spoke, though Will was not aware of 
either movement. He was too much cast down by the 
accident to be mindful of anything besides his own and 
the professor’s immediate suffering. 

“ Do you think I might see him this evening? ” he 
ventured to inquire. 

“ You’ve got eyes in your head, haven’t you ? Can 
see him if you look.” 

“ Will it be safe ? That’s what I mean.” 

“I don’t believe he’ll harm you. He won’t be in good 
fighting trim, though he may be in a fighting mood.” 

“I want to explain it to him,” persisted Will. “ If 
you think it will be all right I’d like to take some fruit 
and go down to see him.” 

“Better leave your peace offering at my offlce,” 
chuckled the doctor. 


A MEMOKABLE INTERVIEW 


233 


It’ll be all right, then, will it? ” said Will eagerly. 

‘ ‘ As far as the professor is concerned — yes. Whether 
it will be safe for you or not is another matter. You 
have my permission to try it, though you may be taking 
your life in your hands if you do it. ’ ’ 

“Thank you,” said Will cordially as he turned 
toward his dormitory. “ I’ll take my chances ” 

“Better take the fruit,” interrupted the doctor as 
he turned abruptly away. 

When Will entered his room he found Foster and 
Mott both there, and as soon as he had reported that 
the professor was in no immediate danger Mott laughed 
loudly and said, “That’s oneway to get even with 
Splinter. I think the college ought to vote you a medal, 
Phelps. If I had run into him I’d have grabbed him 
by the hair and yanked him along with me. It would 
have been my last chance to get even with him.” 

Will made no response, but that evening with a bas- 
ket of fruit he returned to the professor’s house, and, 
after his hesitating little wife had consented for him to 
enter her husband’s room. Will was shown into his 
presence. 

‘ ‘ How are you feeling this evening, professor ? ” he 
inquired a little awkwardly, for the feeling of constraint 
was still strong upon him. 

“Miserably, thank you, Phelps,” replied the pro- 
fessor feebly. 

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Will cheerfully. 
“Doctor Seymour told me he thought you were not 
seriously injured.” 


234 


WINNING HIS 

Doctor Seymour is somewhat unfeeling,*’ said the 
professor with an intonation that to Will did not indi- 
cate that the injured man’s vitality was entirely gone 
or even was at a low ebb. “ He has no sympathy and 
I fear has but a slight appreciation of my malady. I 
question seriously, Phelps, if any man ever has suffered 
more than I have within the past few hours. There is 
a faint and yet distinct sound of roaring in my ears, my 
nostrils are excessively tender, there is a dull pain in 
my left side, my back also was evidently seriously 
wrenched, my left wrist is swelled, and the shock to my 
entire nervous system was of a character that will re- 
quire many days, I fawncy, before the restoration to 
my former and normal condition is completely assured.” 

“ Poor dear ! Poor man ! ’* murmured the good 
man’s wife, who was fluttering about the bedside as if 
she felt she must do something for the sufferer but knew 
not exactly what. 

I am very sorry to hear of it,” said Will sympa- 
thetically. “ And it was all my fault too. I am more 
sorry, professor, than I can tell you. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Were you the young gentleman who was on those im- 
plements — skees I fawncy I have heard them termed ? ” 
“Yes, sir. I did my best to get out of your way, 
but I couldn’t do it. It was the first day I ever had 
had skees on my feet. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ I accept your apology. I appreciate the fact that 
your Intentions were by no means antagonistic. Doubt- 
less you recall the words of Agamemnon to Ulysses, as 
Homer, or at least he whom we are accustomed to refer 


A MEMORABLE INTERVIEW 


235 


to by that name, though Wolf has something to say 
upon that subject which every one ought to know. 
Doubtless you do, Mr. Phelps. Do you recall the in- 
terview to which I refer? It is in the second book.” 

“No, I can’t say that I do, professor,” said Will 
quickly. “ I have about all that I can do to keep the 
stuff — I mean the declensions and conjugations, in my 
mind, to say nothing of the book and line.” 

‘ * If you will kindly hand me my Bomer, ’ ’ said the 
professor, partly rising in the bed as he spoke, ‘ ‘ I will 
indicate where the exact location of the quotation to 
which I have referred is to be found. The work is on 
the second shelf on book case number four, the second 
book from the end. It is the text of the Codex Vene- 
tus A. I really prefer that to the text of the Codex 
Venetus B, although some of my associates differ with 
me in this conclusion. They are mistaken, though ! 
Every one of them is misinformed,” he added with a 
sudden burst of energy. 

“ There, dear,” interrupted his wife quickly. “You 
can show Mr. Phelps the text some other time. You 
are too ill to exert yourself now.” 

“I fawncy I am, I must be,” acquiesced the pa- 
tient, sinking back upon his pillow and again begin- 
ning to give expression to his feelings by his prolonged 
“ Ohs, 0-o-hs ! 0-h-hs ! ” 

Will Phelps was positive that the proper time for his 
own departure had arrived, and, hastily rising, he pre- 
sented the professor with the fruit he had brought and 
at once took his leave. 


236 


WINNING HIS ^^W” 


On the following day, when it was learned that the 
professor of Greek would not be able to come to the 
classroom, it was questionable how deep the grief of 
the students was. When it was known that his injuries 
were not serious and that he was suffering more from 
shock than from any direct injury, even the regret of 
Will Phelps was not so keen as it had been. The work 
in Greek was to be divided among two or three men 
during the professor’s absence, and, when Will found 
that his professor in Latin was also to have the Greek 
for the time, his enthusiasm was at once aroused. His 
feeling toward the man was but little short of adoration, 
and, when three days had passed and the injured man 
had left Winthrop for an absence of three weeks, during 
which it was hoped that he would entirely recover. Will 
stopped one day after class for a word with his favorite 
teacher. He explained to him fully the trouble he was 
having with his Greek and also told his friend how dis- 
tasteful the entire subject was to him as well as how 
poorly he was doing in it. 

Professor Sinclair smiled and listened attentively and 
then said, * ‘ I see, Phelps. In the first place you 
were not well prepared, and that in part accounts for 
your dislike ; and then too, I don’t think you know 
how to work.” 

“ I certainly work hard enough,” said Will, feeling 
slightly hurt. 

‘ ‘ I have no doubt of that, ’ ’ said the professor cor- 
dially. “But there are a good many men who are 
very busy but they never seem to accomplish much. 


A MEMORABLE INTERVIEW 


237 


Industry is all right, but it must be helped by some- 
thing else,^’ 

What’s that ? ” 

“ There are several things. One is that a man must 
learn what not to do as well as what to do. That is 
the secret of the success of many a man. That’s why 
an older man accomplishes so much more than a young 
man ; he has learned what to omit, what not to touch 
at all. The young man is full of energy and is willing 
to work, but he scatters his efforts over too great an 
extent of territory and doesn’t know how to use his 
time to the best advantage. He’s like a little dog 
that runs about a field sniffing at everything and catch- 
ing nothing.” 

“That’s it, that’s it, professor,” said Will eagerly. 

I spend time enough, but I don’t know how. What 
shall I do?” 

“ Come down to my house to-night and study your 
Greek for an hour aloud. I’ll make comments and 
suggestions and assist you all that is in my power.” 

Will Phelps never forgot that hour spent with Pro- 
fessor Sinclair. Even the detested Greek appeared in 
a different light at the close of the hour from what it 
did in the beginning. He went back to his room with 
a feeling such as he had never had beforeo Courage, 
determination, interest, were all aroused, and when his 
room-mate glanced up as Will entered the room be 
noted the changed expression on his face and at once 
demanded the meaning of it. 

It was eleven o’clock before Will stopped talking 


238 


WINNING HIS ^^W’^ 


and said, “ Here I’ve been taking all the evening tell- 
ing what great things I’m going to do and I haven’t 
done a thing. I don’t even know my Greek for to- 
morrow. What do you suppose Professor Sinclair will 
say to me ? ” 


CHAPTER XXV 


THE EXAMINATION 

T he injured professor of Greek did not return to 
college until the vacation days were gone. How 
Will Phelps did enjoy that break in his work ! He 
almost begrudged the swiftly passing hours while he was 
at home, and as the vacation drew near its close he 
found himself computing the hours and even the min- 
utes that yet remained before he must return, just as he 
had previously reckoned the time that must pass before 
he could return to Sterling. It was not that he did not 
enjoy his college life, for as we know he had entered 
heartily into its spirit, but the work was hard and his 
handicap in the one subject had robbed him of the en- 
thusiasm which perhaps otherwise he might have had. 

When the day at last arrived when he was to return 
he was unusually quiet and seldom had a word to say 
to any one. Uppermost in his thoughts was the ex- 
pression of the principal of the school where he had 
prepared for college, who had said to him: “Well, 
Will, with all the fun of college there is still another 
side to it, and that is, that when a fellow enters college 
he really is leaving home. From that time forward he 
may come back for his vacations, but it is neverthe- 
less the break that sooner or later comes to every 

239 


240 


WINNING HIS 

man.’’ Will had thought much of the saying, and its 
truthfulness was so apparent that he was unable en- 
tirely to shake off the somewhat depressing effect it had 
produced upon himself. 

When the hour came and the good-byes must be said 
he strove desperately to be calm, but he dared not trust 
himself to say much. He did not once glance behind 
him as he walked away from the house to the street, 
though he knew that his father and mother were stand- 
ing on the piazza and were watching him as long as his 
sturdy form could be seen by them. 

On the train he found several of his college friends 
and it became somewhat easier for him in their com- 
pany to forget his own heaviness of heart, and as he 
sped on toward Winthrop the numbers increased and 
the noisy shouts of greeting and the enthusiasm of the 
students diverted him from the feeling to which other- 
wise he might have yielded. 

Peter John and Foster were in the number of the 
returning students, the former having recovered suffi- 
ciently to warrant him in taking up a part of his work. 
Wagner also and several of the other students who had 
been victims of the fever were on the train when it ar- 
rived at Winthrop, and in the warmth of their reception 
by their student friends there was a tonic such as even 
the physicians’ prescriptions had not afforded. Will 
found a slight return of his depression when he first 
entered his room, but when a few days had passed his 
life had once more settled into the grooves of the daily 
routine and assumed its former round of tasks. 






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But didn’t I pass the 
examination, professor?’ ’ 

Page 211 




THE EXAMINATION 


241 


The Greek professor had returned, but his presence 
in the classroom promised little for Will, though he was 
still working hard upon the subject and believed that 
he was steadily gaining, thanks to the inspiration and 
suggestions of Professor Sinclair, whose friendliness was 
so apparent that Will almost felt that he was occupy- 
ing the foremost place in his affection. 

The mid-year examinations came within a month after 
the reopening of the college, and the chagrin and anger 
of Will Phelps were keenly aroused when he learned 
that although he had done well in his other studies he 
was conditioned in his Greek. He stormed and raved 
about the injustice with which he was being treated, 
and finally, at Foster’s suggestion, sought a personal 
interview with his professor. 

don’t understand it, professor,” he said warmly. 
“ I never felt more sure of anything in my life than I 
did that I had passed that exam — I mean that exami- 
nation.” 

“Ah, yes,” replied the professor. “Quite likely 
if you had had the decision to make, you would have 
passed cum laude! Ha, ha ! Yes, I fawncy it might 
have been so, but unfortunately the decision had to be 
made by other parties. ’ ’ 

“But didn’t I pass the examination, professor?” 
demanded Will. 

“ I do not exactly recollect as to that. Quite likely 
you failed, since that impression seems to be vivid in 
your thoughts. Were you so reported ? ” 

“Yes, sir. Have you got that paper, professor ? ” 

Q 


242 


WINNING HIS 

“ I have it. I should not say I have got it.” 

‘‘ May I see it? ” Will’s manner was subdued, but 
there was a flush on his cheeks which those who knew 
him well would at once have understood. 

“I will look it over with you,” assented the pro- 
fessor. * ‘ It is against our rules to return papers to 
students, and I fawncy our rules are made to be obeyed, 
not ignored.” 

Yes, sir.” Will was hardly aware of what he was 
saying so impatient and eager was he for the paper to 
be produced. 

The professor unlocked a drawer in his desk and 
drew forth a package of papers that were carefully tied 
with a piece of ribbon. Even the knot was exact and 
the loop on one side did not vary from that on the other 
by the smallest fraction. In his impatience Will no- 
ticed even this detail, but it was ignored in a moment 
when the professor slowly and with care examined the 
headlines of the papers and at last drew forth one which 
he placed on the desk in front of him and said : ‘ ‘ Ah, 
yes. Here is the paper in question. It is credited with 
being two points above the mark required to pass a 
student. ’ ’ 

“It is?” demanded Will enthusiastically. “I 
thought there must be a mistake.” 

There was a slight scowl on the professor’s brow as 
he said : “ Ah, yes. I will now refer to your true 
mark,” and he drew forth a little book as he spoke 
and carefully examined the record. “Ah, yes,” he 
murmured, not lifting his eyes from the page on which 


THE EXAMINATION 


243 


he had placed a forefinger. “Ah, yes. It is as I 
fawncied. Your average for the term in your recita- 
tions is what brings you below. It is true you are two 
above the required mark in your examination, but you 
are three below in your recitation work, and that, I 
regret exceedingly to say, brings you still one point 
below the mark necessary to pass you.’* The professor 
looked up and smiled blandly. 

But Will Phelps was not smiling and his vigorous 
young heart was filled with wrath. By a desperate 
effort, however, he contrived to control his voice and 
said quietly : “ Was I not doing better? Was I not 
improving in my work ? ” 

“ I should not care to speak positively, but my im- 
pression is that you were. Ah, yes,” he added as he 
glanced again at his record. “You were improving. 
I may even say there was a marked improvement.” 

‘ ‘ And I passed the exam ? ’ ’ 

“I have told you that you were two points above 
the mark required for passing the examination,” said 
the professor with dignity. 

“ Then I don’t see what I’m stuck for.” 

“You are not ‘ stuck.’ ” 

“I’m not? Thank you, professor. I thought I 
was. You can’t understand what a load ” 

“Excuse me, Mr. Phelps. I did not affirm that 
you were not conditioned. I merely declared that you 
were not ‘ stuck.’ ” 

“Then I am conditioned, am I?” said Will, his 
heart instantly sinking. 


244 


WINKING HIS W 


f) 


* ‘ Most certainly. ’ ’ 

‘‘ What shall I have to do ? ’* 

‘ ‘ Pass the examination. ’ ’ 

“ But I have passed it ! I passed this one ! ’’ de- 
clared Will promptly. 

Again the professor’s scowl returned and his thin 
lips were tightly compressed as he said, “ I fawncy it 
will not be necessary for me to repeat what I have al- 
ready said. You were deficient in the term work and 
therefore are conditioned.” 

“ Then you mean to tell me, do you,” said Will, no 
longer able to repress his rising indignation, “ that, 
though I steadily improved in my class work, and then 
passed the examination, in spite of it all you are going 
to give me a condition because according to your 
figures I am still one point below ? ” 

* ‘ Most certainly. ’ ’ 

“ And I’ll have to take another exam ? ” 

‘‘ Precisely.” 

“Good evening, professor,” said Will, rising ab- 
ruptly. 

There was nothing more to be said, and he felt that 
it would be wise to withdraw from the professor’s pres- 
ence before, in his indignation, he should say some- 
thing he was certain to regret. When, however, he 
returned to his own room, there the flood tides of his 
wrath broke loose. He related the interview to Foster, 
and bitterly declared that if a smaller specimen of a 
man could be found with a microscope he thought he 
would be willing to spend his davs and ni^jhts searching 


THE EXAMINATION 


245 


for him. There was neither justice nor fairness in it. 
He had improved steadily, even Splinter acknowledged 
that he had, and had passed the required exam, and 
yet for the sake of the professor’s pettiness and the red 
tape of the college rules he must take another, and then 
if he should pass that he would be all right. Bah ! 
Greek was bad enough, but Splinter was worse. What 
kind of a man was he to put in charge of a lot of fel- 
lows with live blood in their veins, he’d like to know. 
For his part he wished he was out of it. Such things 
might do for kids, but it was too contemptible to think 
of for college students. 

Foster wisely waited till the outburst had been ended 
and then said, “Well, Will, you’re up against it, 
whatever you say. What are you going to do about 
it?” 

“Do about it? I’m going to pass that exam. 
There isn’t any other way out. I’ve got to do it ! 
But that doesn’t make it any nicer for me, does it ? ” 

“Splinter’s here and is likely to stay. And if you 
and I are going to stay too, I suppose we’ll have to come 
to his tune.” 

“ I fancy — you should hear Splinter say that.” 

“ Say what ? ” 

“‘Fancy,’ only he calls it ‘fawncy.’ I ‘fawncy* 
my father is dead right when he says that I’ll find a 
splinter everywhere and just as long as I live ; but I 
don’t believe I’ll ever find one as bad as this one is.” 

“ He may be worse. Don’t you remember that lit- 
tle bit of Eugene Field’s verse where he tells how when 


246 


WINNING HIS ^^W” 

he was a boy he was sliding down hill with some other 
little chaps in front of the deacon’s house ? And how 
their yelling annoyed the deacon till at last he came 
out and sprinkled ashes on the path? Well, Eugene 
said he always had found since that there was some one 
standing ready to throw ashes on his path, it didn’t 
seem to make any difference where he was.” 

“I don’t remember, but it’s like my father’s words 
about finding splinters everywhere. Oh, no, I’m mad 
about it, but I’m not running away. I’m going to do 
it if that’s the thing to be done.” 

And when a month had gone by Will had passed the 
examination, and was facing his work without the drag 
of work undone to hinder him. 

The final infiuence had come one Sunday in the col- 
lege chapel where the pulpit from week to week was 
occupied ( ‘ ‘ filled ’ ’ was a word also occasionally used) 
by men of eminence, who were invited for the purpose 
of speaking to the college boys. Some of these visitors 
by words, presence, and message were a great inspiration 
to the young men, and others were correspondingly 
deficient, for in the vocabulary of Winthrop there was 
no word by which to express the comparative degree. 

Will Phelps had regularly attended the services, not 
only because such attendance was required by the col- 
lege authorities, but also from the habit and inclination 
of his own life. With his fellows he had enjoyed some 
speakers and had disliked others in his thoughtless 
manner, and in the preceding week had laughed as 
heartily as any one over the unconscious escapade of 


THE EXAMINATION 


247 


Mott. The preacher for the day had been unusually 
prosy, having length without much breadth or thick- 
ness as Foster had drily described the discourse, and 
in the midst of the hour, Mott had fallen asleep in his 
pew. Short and stout in figure, doubtless doubly 
wearied by the late hours he had kept the preceding 
night, in the midst of his slumbers he had begun to 
snore. From low and peaceful intonations he had 
passed on to long, prolonged, and sonorous notes that 
could be heard throughout the college chapel. Nor 
would any one of his fellows disturb his slumbers, and 
when at last with an unusually loud and agonizing gasp 
Mott was awakened and suddenly sat erect and stared 
stupidly about him, the good-hearted, but boyishly ir- 
reverent audience, it is safe to afiirm, was decidedly 
more interested in the slumbering sophomore than in 
the soporific speaker, though few doubtless thought 
them related as cause and effect. 

On the following Sunday Will was thinking of Mott’s 
experience and wondering if he would give another 
exhibition. This thought was even in his mind when 
the visiting speaker entered the chapel pulpit and 
reverently began the service of the day. 

He had not been speaking long before it was evident 
that every eye was fastened upon him. It was evident 
that here was first of all a man, and then a man who 
was present because he had something to say and not 
merely because he had to say something. 

I am appealing to those of you,” he was saying, 
** who are eager and earnest, not to you who are in- 


248 


WINNING HIS 


different or weaklings. Those of you who are members 
of your college teams, who are leading spirits in the 
college life, who are not living lives that are above re- 
proach because you have no temptation to be bad, but 
because if you do right it is because you have to strug- 
gle and fight for it — it is to you I am speaking this 
morning.” 

Will was listening intently, as was every one in the 
chapel, and then there followed a sentence that seemed 
to him almost electric with life and that made a lasting 
impression upon his life. 


CHAPTER XXVI 


A FRESH EXCITEMENT 

“ ITT HAT I want every one of you young men to 

Y T do, ” the speaker was saying, “is to give your 
better self a chance. There isn’t one of you to-day 
who is not proud of his physical strength, not one of 
you who, if he should be urged to join one of the 
athletic teams, would not willingly, even proudly go 
through all the training that would be required of him. 
And that is right. In your intellectual work some of 
you see what the desired end is — the development of 
power, getting your brains into form so that you can 
meet and compete with the forces you will have to face 
when you leave your college days behind you and go 
forth to make your name and place in the great battle- 
field of life. Some of you, it may be, do not as yet see 
this clearly, and when you can evade a task or dodge a 
difficult demand upon you, count it as so much gained. 
But in your heart of hearts you know better, and are 
dimly conscious that you are losing and not gaining by 
your neglect. 

“ Now my appeal to you to-day is to apply this same 
principle to the supreme problem of living. It was life 
that the Nazarene came to impart according to his own 
statement ; it was life that Saul of Tarsus, the greatest 

249 


250 


WINNING HIS 

of his followers, declared he had found in heeding and 
following his call. He says in this way he ‘ found him- 
selji ^ his true and his best self. He was straight, ear- 
nest, true and what the world about him called a good 
man. But he realized that there was a better, and so 
held himself to the vision of higher and better things. 

‘ ‘ Again and again I have men tell me that they feel 
as if they had made a failure of life. Some of these 
men are high in position, some possessed of great wealth, 
which their own efforts have won for them, some have 
made a name for themselves that will not soon be for- 
gotten ; but in spite of it all they feel that they have 
made a failure of themselves, have never solved the 
riddle of their own lives, and with all their getting 
have not gotten understanding. Don’t make that mis- 
take, young gentlemen. 

‘ ‘ It has been said that the good is ever the enemy of 
the best. And right there is the peril of every life. 
We may have gained a certain advantage, and the ten- 
dency is to forget how much lies beyond. Is it not so 
in your own case ? 

‘ ‘ The first thing a man must have before he can grow 
or rise or improve is to realize that there is a better. 
Then he must realize the price of the better which in 
every case is struggle. Men are never lifted into better 
things. The explorer does not draw back from the 
perils that confront him, the pioneer does not falter be- 
fore his contest with nature, your football team does not 
whine or cry because it is lined up against a team as 
sturdy as itself. These are the very appeals that rouse 


A FRESH EXCITEMENT 


251 


the energies and call forth the strength of the true man. 
And what I want this morning is to impress upon you 
the truth that this is the law of all life that is worthy 
of the name. There are just two classes of men : the 
victors and the victims. Which shall it be ? Every- 
thing belongs to him who overcomes — life, the rewards of 
living, and all that makes life worth the living. From 
him who plays the coward or becomes the weakling 
there is the loss not only of the rewards of life, but of 
life itself. The old apostle’s word to the young man 
whom he tenderly loved was ‘ endure hardness.’ Natu- 
rally one might think Paul would have said, ^ I hope, 
my son Timothy, you will be spared the hardships 
through which I have passed rather than give up. I 
hope you never will be beaten with rods, nor scarred 
with the forty stripes save one, nor have to be drawn 
from the deep where you have been tossed about for a 
day and a night, and then cast all faint and suffering 
and apparently lifeless on the sands of the shore. I 
hope none of these things will come to you.’ Is that 
what he says? Not a bit! The aged man’s voice 
rings strong and clear like the blast of the trumpet as 
he says, ‘ endure hardness. Take the part of a man I 
Be a good soldier ! Take your place in the ranks of 
the men who are never wounded in the back. ’ ’ ’ 

The earnestness, the sincerity, and naturalness of 
the speaker acted upon Will Phelps with the effect of 
an electric shock. Never had he been so thoroughly 
aroused, and every nerve in his body was tingling when 
he left the chapel and started toward his own room. 


252 


WINNING HIS 

“That’s the kind of a talk the fellows like.” 

Will glanced up and beheld Wagner, who had over- 
taken him and now was walking by his side. 

“I never heard such a man in all my life,” said 
Will warmly. 

“ There isn’t a man that comes here who has such a 
grip on the students as he has. One of the best things 
you have to look forward to is the treat you will have 
every year of hearing him. There isn’t a spark of 
‘cant’ or ‘gush” about him, but what he says goes 
straight home. I don’t think I’ll ever forget some of 
the things he has said to us while I’ve been in college.” 

Accepting Will’s cordial invitation, Wagner went 
with him to his room and remained there for an hour, 
and for the most of the time their conversation was of 
the man and the message they had that morning heard. 

“I’ll never forget one thing he said,” remarked 
Wagner thoughtfully. 

“ What was that ? ” inquired Will, deeply interested 
at once. 

“ He was talking once about the reason why women 
were supposed to be so much more religious than men, 
and he said he didn’t believe they were.” 

“There are more in the churches, anyway,” sug- 
gested Will. 

“Yes, that’s what he said ; but he said too, that the 
reason for it was because one side of the life of Christ 
had been emphasized at the expense of the other. He 
said so much had been made of his gentleness and 
meekness and the kindly virtues, which were the femi- 


A FRESH EXCITEMENT 


253 


nine side of his nature and appealed most to women, 
that he was afraid sometimes the other the stronger 
side and the one that appealed most to men had been 
lost. And then he went on to speak of the Lion of the 
tribe of Judah, and he pictured the temptation and 
the power of decision and the heroic endurance and 
strength, and all that. I never heard anything like it 
in all my life. It made me feel as I do when the team 
is in for a meet. I’ll never forget it ! Never ! ” 

“I wish I’d heard it.” 

“You’ll have three more chances, anyway.” 

“Maybe more than that if I don’t pass off all my 
work,” laughed Will. 

‘ ‘ Having any trouble ? ’ ’ 

“A little with my Greek, but I’ve passed off my 
condition now.” 

“ I think you’re all right then, though Splinter is a 
hard proposition. Just imagine him talking like this 
man this morning. ’ ’ 

Will laughed, and then becoming serious, he said, 
“ Wagner, I’ve a classmate who is bothering me.” 

“Who is it?” 

“ Schenck. Peter John everybody calls him.” 

“ What’s he doing ? What’s the trouble with him ? ” 

“ Well, to be honest, he’s drinking hard.” 

“Wasn’t he one of the fellows who was down with 
the typhoid when I had it ? ” 

“Yes.” 

“ An awkward, ungainly, redheaded fellow ? ” 

“ That’s the one.” 


254 


WINKING HIS 

“ What have you been doing for him? 

“ Everything I could think of, but nothing seems to 
hold. He made all sorts of promises when he was sick 
and he hasn’t kept one of them. He goes around with 
Mott and you know what that means.” 

Yes,” said Wagner thoughtfully. 

‘‘ He’s a queer chap. I was in school three years 
with him and in some ways he was absolutely idiotic. 
For a while he’d work all right and then without a 
word of warning he’d break out and do some of the 
most absolutely fool things you ever heard of.” 

“ Not very much to appeal to, I fancy.” 

“ There might be if a fellow knew how, but I con- 
fess I don’t.” 

“You think it would do any good for me to see him ? ” 

“Yes, I do,” said Will eagerly. “You know he 
might stand a show for the track team ” 

“Is he the fellow that ^on the half-mile in the sopho- 
more-freshman meet ? ’ ’/inquired Wagner eagerly. “ Is 
he the one ? ” ^ 

“Yes.” 

“ I’ll see him. I’ll go right over there now. You’re 
not letting up any in your own work for the team are 
you, Phelps?” 

“I’m doing a little all the time,” Will admitted, 
“ but I don’t suppose it will amount to much.” 

“ Yes, it will. You never can tell till you try. If 
Mott does not do better he’ll find himself out of it. 
We’ll need you and every one we can get. You know 
I can’t go in this year.” 


A FRESH EXCITEMENT 


255 


‘‘Why not?” 

“ The typhoid. Doctor won’t let me.” 

“ Then Peter John can’t go in either.” 

“ That’s so. I hadn’t thought of that. All the 
more reason then why you ought to do your best, 
Phelps. I’ll see this John Henry anyway ” 

“ You mean Peter John. ” 

” All right. Have it your own way. I’ll go over 
to his room and look him up anyway. Good-bye, 
Phelps.” 

“Good-bye,” responded Will, as the senior started 
down the stairway. 

Several days elapsed before Will heard anything of 
Wagner’s interview with Peter John and then all that 
AYagner told him was that the freshman had promised 
faithfully to do better. But Will had already had so 
much experience with Peter John’s promises that he 
was somewhat skeptical as to results. His classmate 
he knew was not essentially vicious, only weak. He 
was so weak and vain that he was eager to gain the 
favor of whatever person he chanced to be with, and 
his promise of better things to Wagner was as readily 
given as was his response to Mott when the latter hap- 
pened to be his companion of the hour. 

Troubled as Will was, he nevertheless did for Peter 
John all that was within his power, which was not 
much, and was heavy-hearted as the reports steadily 
came of his classmate’s downfall. Even Hawley, good- 
natured as he was, had at last rebelled and declared 
that he would no longer room with a fellow who had no 


256 


WINNING HIS 


more sense than Schenck, and Peter John, left to him- 
self, was quick to respond to Mott’s invitation to share 
his room, and was soon domiciled in the sophomore’s 
more luxurious quarters. 

Will Phelps found meanwhile that his own work in 
the classroom was of a character that promised a fair 
grade, though by no means a high one. Even his pro- 
fessor of Greek now appeared in a slightly more favor- 
able light, and Will was convinced that the change was"' 
in Splinter, not in himself, so natural and strong were 
his boyish prejudices. 

As the springtime drew near, however, his thoughts 
and time were somewhat divided in the excitement of 
the last great struggle between the members of his own 
class and their rivals, the sophomores. For years it 
had been the custom of the college for the two lower 
classes to bury, or rather to burn the hatchet on St. 
Patrick’s Day. For a week preceding that time the 
tussles between the rival classes were keener than at 
any other time during the year. 

At that eventful date the freshmen for the first time 
were permitted to carry canes, and on the day itself 
there was to be a parade of the freshman class, every 
member clad in some outlandish garment which he 
wore outside his other clothing, and it was the one 
ambition of the sophomore class to silence the music of 
the band that was at the head of the procession and at 
the same time tear the outer garments from the noisy 
freshmen. For a week preceding the time of the parade 
the freshmen were striving by every means in their 


A FRESH EXCITEMENT 


257 


power to smuggle their canes into Winthrop so that 
they would all be supplied when the day of emancipa- 
tion arrived, and the test of the sophomores’ keenness 
was in being able to thw^art the plans of their adversa- 
ries and prevent the entrance of the canes into the town. 

Every road leading to the village was strictly guarded 
by the vigilant sophomores and spies were busy in the 
adjacent towns who were continually on the lookout for 
the purchase or purchasers of the canes. The excite- 
ment had become keener with the passing of the days 
until now only two days remained before the great 
parade when the huge wooden hatchet would be borne 
at the head of the procession and duly consigned to the 
flames on the lower campus in the presence of the 
entire student body. 

Will and Foster had shared in the growing interest 
and both knew just where the coveted canes had been 
purchased by the duly authorized committee and hidden 
till the time should arrive when they were to be brought 
stealthily into the village. Their excitement became 
keener still when on the evening of the day to which 
reference has been made Peter John Schenck burst 
into Will’s room with a report that instantly aroused 
his two friends. 


R 


CHAPTER XXVII 


THE RUSH TO COVENTRY CENTER 

‘‘ rpHE sophs have found out where the canes are,” 

X Peter John almost shouted. 

‘‘ They have ? How do you know ? ’ ’ demanded Will. 

“ I was in my bedroom and I heard them talking 
with Mott in our study room.” 

“Who?” 

“Tucker, Spencer, and Goodman.” 

“ What did they say ? ” 

“ They said the canes were over in Coventry Center, 
at the minister’s house there.” 

Coventry Center was a little hamlet about seven 
miles distant from Winthrop, and the excited freshmen 
had indeed stored a part of their canes in the house of 
the worthy old minister of the village. They had 
frankly explained to him what their purpose was and 
he had laughingly consented to receive the coveted pos- 
sessions in his home and store them there for the four 
days that intervened between the time and St. Patrick’s 
day. And the freshmen had been confident that their 
hiding-place would not readily be discovered. No one 
would suspect that the parsonage would be selected or the 
worthy minister would act as a guard. To make assur- 
ance doubly certain, however, only half of the canes 
258 


THE RUSH TO COVENTRY CENTER 259 

had been entrusted to the minister, and even those were 
divided — a bundle containing a dozen being placed in the 
woodshed and the remaining being stored beneath the 
hay in the little loft of the barn. The other half of the 
class canes had been taken to a farmhouse a mile distant 
from the parsonage and there concealed in an unused well, 
the mouth of which was filled with rubbish and the debris 
of a shed that liad been blown down by a severe wind- 
storm that had occurred a few weeks before this time. 

As the utmost care had been observed by the com- 
mittee having in charge the purchase of the canes, and 
they had stealthily in a stormy night taken their pre- 
cious burdens to the two places of concealment they 
had been confident, over-confident now it appeared, 
that their actions had not been discovered. 

AVill and Foster had both served on the committee 
that had purchased and hidden the canes, and when 
Peter John brought his unwelcome tidings that the rival 
class was aware of the place where the canes had been 
stored, it was difficult for them to determine whether 
anger or chagrin was uppermost in their feelings. At 
all events they both were greatly excited, and Will said 
as he hastily rose from his chair : 

‘ ‘ How did they find it out ? ’ ’ 

“I don’t know. I didn’t hear them say,” replied 
Peter John. 

“ Did they find out that you were there ? ” 

‘‘No, they left before I came out of my room. The 
door was partly open and I didn’t dare stir hand or 
foot.” 


260 


WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

Lucky for you, Peter John.’^ 

“Yes. I know it.” 

“What are they going to do?” inquired Foster, 
who up to this time had been silent. 

‘ ‘ They’ ve gone over to get the canes. ’ ’ 

“ Gone ! ” exclaimed Will aghast. 

“Yes. That’s what Goodman said.” 

“ How many went, do you know, Peter John?” de- 
manded Foster. 

“ He said three. ” 

“ Do you know who they were? ” 

“No.” 

‘ ‘ When did they start ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Goodman said they went about an hour ago. ’ ^ 
“Which road?” 

“ I don’t know.” 

“ Why didn’t Mott go ? ” 

“I don’t think he knew anything about it before 
these fellows came and told him,” 

“ What did he do after they told him ? ” 

“ He slapped his legs and laughed.” 

“You say he went away with those fellows that told 
him about it? ” 

“Yes.” 

“ Did they say anything about any other canes ” 

began Will. But he was sharply interrupted by Fos- 
ter and abruptly ceased. 

“I didn’t know there were any others,” said Peter 
John. “ Are there ? Where are they ? ’ ’ 

“We haven’t any time to waste here,” said Foster, 


THE RUSH TO COVENTRY CENTER 261 


hastily donning his sweater and putting a cap on his 
head. “ Peter John, you go back to your room, and if 
you hear of anything more go straight to Bishop with 
the word.” 

“I’d rather go with you fellows.” 

“Not this trip. You’ll have to be on the lookout 
here. Somebody must do it and you’re the one, Peter 
John. Come on. Will,” he added, calling to his room- 
mate and instantly departed from the room. 

Ignoring Peter John, Will hastily followed Foster, 
and together the two freshmen ran to Hawley’s room. 
There a hurried consultation was held, the result of 
which was that it was decided that Foster and Dana 
should secure a horse and buggy and drive swiftly to 
Coventry Center by one road, two other classmates were 
to drive to the same destination by another road, while 
Will and Hawley were to go on foot across the country 
and strive to arrive at the minister’s house by the time 
the others had done so. In this way it was believed 
that every avenue of approach or retreat would be cov- 
ered, and that even if the sophomores had been first on 
the scene they would still be unable to get away with 
their booty before they would be discovered, and at 
least followed. 

In a brief time Will and Hawley were on their way 
across the country, leaving their more fortunate com- 
rades, who were to ride, to follow as soon as their con- 
veyances could be secured. The ground was still frozen, 
and in places there were patches of snow and ice, al- 
though the heavy snowfall of the winter for the most part 


262 


WINNING HIS 

was gone. Their way led through woods and over plowed 
fields, but the steady run or “ trot ” was maintained up- 
hill and down, and within an hour and a half from the 
time they had departed from Winthrop they arrived at 
the confines of the little hamlet of Coventry Center. 

‘‘See or hear anything. Will?” inquired Hawley, 
as the two freshmen stopped and listened intently as 
they peered all about them. 

“ Not a thing,” whispered Will in response. 

The lights in the little homes were already out, for 
the people of Coventry Center were not believers in keep- 
ing untimely hours, and the twinkling lights of the little 
village for the most part disappeared before ten o’clock 
arrived. It was about that hour when Will Phelps and 
Hawley stopped at the end of the one straggling street 
to try to discover if there were any signs of the presence 
of their enemies or classmates. 

“Shall we wait or put straight for the minister’s 
house? ” inquired Hawley. 

“ Go there,” replied Will. 

“ Look out ! Don’t let any one see you,” said Haw- 
ley in a low voice as they stealthily began to make their 
way up the street. Occasionally they stopped to make 
sure that they were not being followed or to strive to dis- 
cover if their own friends were near. They had passed 
the little white wooden church building and were ap- 
proaching the parsonage when both stopped abruptly. 

“ What’s that? ” demanded Hawley in a whisper. 

“You know as much about it as I do. Come on and 
we’ll find out.” 


THE RUSH TO COVENTRY CENTER 263 

The sound of voices could be heard from the rear 
of the house and from the tones it was evident that 
the speakers were somewhat excited. Furthermore 
Will was positive that he recognized the voices of 
two and they were members of the sophomore class at 
Winthrop. 

How many are there ? ” whispered Hawley. 

“ Sounds as if there were six or eight. Hark ! 
There’s the minister talking.” 

“ What’s he saying ? ” 

“I can’t make out. He’s excited over something, 
though.” 

“Come on,” whispered Hawley, “Let’s creep up 
around the corner of the barn. We can see and hear 
too there, and if we’re careful they won’t suspect us.” 

“ It will be all day with us if they do,” whispered 
Will in response. 

Slowly and cautiously the two freshmen crept along 
the side of the street and diagonally across the vacant 
field till they had gained the desired corner of the barn. 
Then crouching low they peered forth at the sight 
which could be seen in the dim light. 

On the highest step of the rear piazza of his house 
stood Mr. Whitaker, the minister of Coventry Center. 
He was a man at least sixty -five years of age, genial 
and shrewd, the friend of every one in the region. On 
the ground before him now five men could be seen and 
neither Will nor Hawley had any difficulty in recogniz- 
ing all five as sophomores. Will pinched Hawley’s arm 
in his excitement, but did not speak, though it almost 


264 


WINNING HIS ^^W 


P) 

seemed to him that the thumpings of his heart must 
betray his presence to the men who were before him. 

Mr. Whitaker was speaking and instantly Wilks 
attention was centered upon what was being said. 
“No, young gentlemen, I am not willing that you 
should enter my house.” 

“But, Mr. Whitaker,’ ’ said one in reply whom Will 
took to be a sophomore who roomed near him in Perry 
Hall, “ we don’t want to come into the house — just into 
the woodshed, that’s all.” 

“ I cannot consent even to that.” 

“We’ll not harm anything.” 

“You certainly will not if you do not enter.” 

“ We’ve got to come in, Mr. Whitaker ! ” said the 
speaker a little more boldly. 

“And I forbid it.” 

An interval in the conversation then followed during 
which Will could see that the sophomores were con- 
ferring. They had withdrawn to a place about mid- 
way between the house and the barn and consequently 
were nearer the hiding-place of the two freshmen than 
before, but both were compelled to draw back for fear 
of being discovered and consequently were unable to 
hear what was said. 

‘ In a brief time the sophomores returned to the piazza 
where the minister was still standing. “ Mr. Whita- 
ker, ’ ’ began the leader. 

“Yes, sir. At your service,” responded the min- 
ister pleasantly. 

“Why do you object to our coming in ? You know 


THE EUSH TO COVENTKY CENTER 265 

we won’t do any harm to the place. You know what 
we’ve come for.” 

“ Perhaps that’s the very reason why I object.” 

“You don’t have to stay here. We’ll give you our 
word we won’t harm anything. All we want is to get 
those freshmen canes. You’re not responsible for them 
and you certainly don’t mean to say that you would 
stand up for that class. Why it’s the worst that ever 
entered Winthrop.” 

‘ ‘ I have frequently heard of the class, ’ ’ said the 
minister laughing genially as he spoke. “I have a 
grandson who chances to be a member of it. ’ ’ 

“I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to say that 
every fellow in it was a poor stick. All I meant was 
that as a class it’s the most conceited one that was ever 
seen. That’s what every one says.” 

“ Doubtless,” remarked Mr. Whitaker dryly. 

“ You don’t care anything about the squabbles of the 
classes. It’s nothing to you anyway, Mr. Whitaker,” 
pleaded the sophomore. 

‘ ‘ What led you to suspect that the canes might be 
here?” 

“It wouldn’t be fair to tell that,” laughed the 
sophomore. “We know they’re here all right, and 
that’s enough.” 

“Would you believe me if I were to say to you that 
they are not here ? ’ ’ 

“Yes, sir, I suppose we should,” replied the sopho- 
more dubiously, “ but you won’t say it.” 

“Why not, since they are not here ? ” 


266 


WINNING HIS ^^W 


‘ ‘ What ? * ’ demanded the entire party almost to- 
gether. 

‘ ‘ That is what I said. The canes are not in my house. ’ * 

“ In the barn, then ? said the leader suspiciously. 

“No, they are not in the barn, either. There is not 
a cane on my place except the one I occasionally use 
myself. If you think that will do ” 

‘ ‘ But, Mr. Whitaker, the man was seen when he 
brought the canes here.” 

“ Quite likely. ” 

“ And yet you say they are not here ? ” 

“ That is what I said. And what I still say.” 

“ I don’t understand ” 

“ I do not say they were not here. All I say is that 
they are not here.” 

“ They’re gone ? They’ve been taken away ? Is that 
what you mean ? ’ ’ demanded the astonished sophomore. 

“ Precisely.” 

“Let’s go in and search anyway,” said one of the 
party now thoroughly angry. 

“ I advise you not to attempt that,” said the minister 
quietly. 

“ AVhy not ? ” said the sophomore impudently. 

“ Because one of my neighbors is a deputy sheriff 
and housebreaking is a somewhat serious offense.” 

For a moment the assembly was nonplussed, but 
their uncertainty was speedily relieved, or at least inter- 
rupted, by an occurrence that instantly caused them all 
to turn and flee from the place at their utmost speed. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


THE MYSTEKY OF THE CANES 


T the very moment when the consternation of the 



IX sophomores was keenest the sound of a sleigh 
turning into the yard in which they were standing 
caused them all to look quickly toward the gateway. 
The ground was bare in places, and the runners of the 
sleigh, as the iron bauds passed over the gravel, emitted 
shrieks and groans as if they were striving to warn the 
sophomores of the impending peril. 

Seated in the sleigh were three men whom the assem- 
bly speedily recognized as members of the freshman 
class, and their own fears for a moment doubtless caused 
the sophomore^ to magnify the numbers as well as the 
danger. 

“ Look out, fellows ! Here they come ! ” said one 
in a low voice whom Will and Hawley recognized. It 
was Mott, who was again the spokesman and leader of 
the little band. 

‘‘Let’s get out of this,” responded one whose voice 
Will could not determine, and as if a sudden panic had 
seized upon them the young men turned and began to 
run swiftly. 

“ Hold on ! Hold on, fellows !” called Mott sav- 
agely, although his voice was not loud. “Hold on ! 


267 


268 


WINNING HIS 

What are you running for ? There are only three of 
them, and we’re good for any three freshmen in Win- 
throp. Don’t run. Come on back ! ” 

Mott’s appeal served to restore a measure of confi- 
dence among his companions, and instantly the flight 
was abandoned and all turned slowly back toward the 
yard. Neither Will nor Hawley had yet moved from 
his hiding-place, though they were leaning farther 
out from the corner of the barn in their eagerness to 
discover what was occurring in the yard before them. 
They could see that the driver in the sleigh was Foster, 
and he had leaped out and was now as calmly tying his 
horse and fastening the blanket upon it as if never a 
thought of his rival class had entered his mind. Be- 
side him two young men were standing, but in the dim 
light it was impossible to determine just who they were. 
The returning sophomores were now near the new ar- 
rivals, and the genial old minister could also be seen, still 
standing on the piazza and evidently not uninterested 
in the sight and presence of the young men before him. 

“What are you doing here, Bennett?” demanded 
Mott of Foster. 

“ Oh, we’re out for a sleigh ride,” responded Foster 
glibly, “ and we just stopped here to see the fun. What 
are you doing here ? ’ ’ 

“ Oh, we stopped to see the fun too,” responded Mott 
gruflEly. “ It’s worth going miles to see freshmen who 
don’t know any more than to go sleigh-riding on bare 
ground. Had a good time, freshman ? ” 

“Yes. Have you ? ” 





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“ ‘ Let’s go in and take 
a hand ! Yell, Phelps ! ’ ” 
Page 269. 


THE MYSTERY OF THE CANES 


269 


‘‘We’re all right. If you’ve come for the canes 
you’re tob late.” 

“Have you just found that out?” replied Foster 
with a loud laugh. It was true that he was not aware 
that the canes had been taken away, but he was not 
minded to betray his surprise to the members of the 
rival class. 

There was a brief interval of silence which was 
broken by the old minister, who said, “ I shall be very 
glad, young gentlemen, to have you come into the house. 
The night air is cold and you must be thoroughly chilled. 
A little while ago I may have appeared somewhat lack- 
ing in hospitality,” he added, turning to Mott as he 
spoke ; ‘ ‘ but now I can assure you I shall be very glad 
indeed to receive you.” 

“Thank you,” responded Foster. “We shall be 
glad to come in if the others will come too.” 

“We can’t very well to-night,” said Mott glumly. 
“ We’ve got to go ” 

Suddenly there broke in a wild yell upon the silence 
of the night. The sound was made by only two men, 
but these two were possessed of a lung power that was 
well-nigh phenomenal. Hawley who with his compan- 
ion had been watching the events that were occurring 
before them had suddenly turned to Will and whispered, 
“ Let’s go in and take a hand ! Yell, Phelps ! Make 
them hear you clear over in Winthrop ! ” 

“Hi-i-i-i!” the two lusty freshmen had shouted 
together as they leaped forward, and the prolonged yell 
was repeated when all the assembly had instantly turned 


270 


WINNING HIS 

and for a moment in sheer astonishment were gazing at 
the startling approach of men from behind the barn. 

“ Come on, fellows ! ” shouted Hawley again. 
“Come on! We’ll get every one of them! Come 
on ! Come on ! ” 

To the startled sophomores it seemed as if myriads of 
their foes were rushing upon them, and after a momen- 
tary confusion every one had started swiftly across the 
narrow field that intervened between the yard and the 
road that approached Coventry Center from another 
direction. 

“Come on, Foster! Come on all you fellows!” 
shouted Hawley. “Come on! We’ll get every soph 
that’s here and will put ’em where they won’t do any 
harm till long after St. Patrick’s Hay.” 

Obediently every freshman started to follow Hawley, 
and across the rough, plowed field they ran swifty 
toward the road where the sophomores had already dis- 
appeared from sight behind the bushes that were thick 
and high by the roadside. When once they had gained 
the road they could see the forms of two men speeding 
away in the distance, and with a renewed shout the 
freshmen started in swift pursuit. 

On up the long hill they sped until at last they stood 
together on the summit. Not a sight of their rivals 
was to be seen, and blankly the freshmen stood and 
stared about them till Hawley said : 

“ No use, fellows. They’ve got away and we might 
as well go back. Foster,” he added, “ did you know 
the canes were gone ? ” 


THE MYSTERY OF THE CANES 


271 


** Gone? Gone where ? ” replied Foster blankly. 

“ I haven’t the slightest idea. All I know is that 
Mr. Whitaker told Mott that the canes had been in his 
house but they had been taken away.” 

‘ ‘ Who took them ? ’ ’ 

“ I haven’t the slightest idea.” 

‘‘You don’t suppose the sophs got them, do you ? ” 
said Foster hastily. 

“I hadn’t thought of that. It never entered my 
mind that anybody but our own fellows had come for 
them.” 

“ I don’t believe it was anybody else that got them,” 
said Will. “ You ought to have heard Mr. Whitaker 
talk to Mott and the other sophs. They were just de- 
termined to go into his house, but the old man would not 
let them. No, you can rest easy about it, Mr. Whitaker 
never let the canes go out of his house without knowing 
who had come for them. No, sir. Not much.” 

Somewhat comforted by Will’s positiveness, the boys 
began to retrace their way down the long road, and 
after a moment Hawley said, “We’ll find out all about 
it anyway, for Mr. Whitaker will tell us. He’s all on 
our side. That’s what comes of having his grandson in 
our class. Say, fellows, you just ought to have heard 
Mott rake over our class. He had the nerve to stand 
there and tell Mr. Whitaker that we were the worst lot 
that had ever entered Winthrop.” 

“I wish we had caught him ! ” said Foster warmly. 
“We would have made him come up in his estimate of 
the freshmen.” 


272 


WINNING HIS “W^' 

“ Oh, he was just talking to hear himself,’ ’ said Will 
Phelps lightly. ‘ * He knows who we are all right 
enough, and he isn’t going to forget us right away 
either. But I wish we had caught him.” 

‘‘Here we are, fellows,” said Hawley, as the five 
young men clambered over the fence and once more 
were in Mr. Whitaker’s yard. “ Let’s go in and ask 
him about it now.” 

“ All right,” responded Foster as they started toward 
the door. “ Hold on a minute. Let me take a look 
at my horse first. I’ll be with you in a minute. 

Gre-a-t ” he suddenly began. “The horse is 

gone ! ’ ’ 

“ What ! ” exclaimed Will in astonishment. 

No heed was given his expression, however, as all five 
ran quickly to the post to which the horse had been tied. 
But the horse and sleigh were gone, and not a trace re- 
mained to show in which direction they had departed. 

‘ ‘ Sure you fastened him all right ? ’ ’ inquired Haw- 
ley anxiously. 

“ I know I did,” replied Foster. 

“If you did then he couldn’t have got loose. I 
wonder if Mott and the sophs could have done it? 
Come on ! We’ll go in and tell Mr. Whitaker and he 
may be able to give us a point or two. There’s a light 
in the kitchen, and we’ll probably find him there. 
Come on, fellows ! ” 

Hastily the boys ran to the kitchen door, and in re- 
sponse to their knock Mr. Whitaker himself opened the 
door and stood before them. 


THE MYSTERY OF THE CANES 


273 


Mr. Whitaker,” began Foster, “ do you know who 
took our horse and sleigh ? ’ ’ 

“Why! Why, I supposed that you did. Two 
young men came into the yard not more than three 
minutes ago and took them away.” 

“They did? Then it was the sophs,” said Foster 
turning to his comrades. “ WeTl never hear the last 
of it. We can’t get a horse here, can we, Mr. Whit- 
aker? ” he inquired eagerly. 

‘ ‘ I fear not. I have none of my own, and th 3re are 
not many to be had here anyway. ’ ’ 

“ Did they start toward Winthrop ? ” 

“ I think so. They turned toward the lower road.” 
“ Let’s get after them,” suggested Foster. 

“ A long way after them,” said Will grimly. “ We 
never could catch up with them.” 

“Mr. Whitaker,” said Hawley, “how long ago 
were the canes taken away from here ? ’ ’ 

The good man hesitated, and the freshman without 
waiting for him to speak began again. “We belong 
to the same class as your grandson. We’re freshmen 
and we don’t want the sophs to get those canes.” 

“ I regret exceedingly that I had anything to do with 
it, but my grandson over-persuaded me and so I con- 
sented. I should say that it was about an hour ago 
when they came for the canes.” 

“ Who came? ” / 

“ There were two young gentlemen, and they brought 
me a note which informed me that I was to let them 
take the canes away.” 


6 


274 


WINNING HIS ^^W^^ 

‘ ‘ A note ? ’ ’ demanded Hawley. ‘ ‘ What did it say ? 
Who signed it ? ^ ’ 

“ It was signed by Hawley — Albert Hawley, if I rec- 
ollect aright, and also by my grandson.” 

“ My name is Hawley and somebody forged it. The 

sophs have the canes and Fm afraid it’s too late ” 

Too late nothing, Hawley ! ” said Will impulsively. 

‘ ‘ What kind of a rig, I mean wagon or sleigh or what- 
ever it was, did they have ? ” he inquired of the minister. 

It was a box wagon, a farm wagon, and they had 
a farmer to drive for them.” 

“ Did you know the man ? ” demanded Will. 

“No. I cannot say that I did. He was a stranger 
to me. But the note ” 

‘ ‘ Probably some soph disguised as a farmer. Did 
he have any other load in the wagon box ? ” 

“ Yes. I noticed some bags of meal.” 

“ Good. And you say they took the lower road ? ” 

“Yes. I recollect that distinctly.” 

“Isn’t there a short cut? Can’t we cut across lots 
and head them off? They would have to go slow, and 
it might be that we could head them somewhere and get 
those canes away from them.” 

“Yes,” replied Mr. Whitaker. “ I don’t know that 
I am doing right to tell you, but inasmuch as the canes 
were secured by a forgery I shall certainly tell you all I 
know of the matter. If you go down to that little valley, ” 
and as he spoke he pointed in a direction in the rear of 
the barn, “you will find a pathway that leads beside the 
brook almost in a straight line to what we call the ford. 


THE MYSTERY OF THE CANES 


275 


It saves between three and four miles to Winthrop, and 
whenever I walk I take the path. I ” 

“Thank you ! Thank you, Mr. Whitaker ! Come 
on ! WeTl try it anyway, fellows. We’ve nothing to 
lose and everything to gain. Good night, Mr. Whit- 
aker ! Thank you for what you’ve told us,” called 
Will Phelps, as he quickly turned and began to run. 

Obediently the boys all followed Will as he ran 
swiftly across the field, and in a brief time they dis- 
covered the pathway to which the old minister had re- 
ferred. There was no conversation now, for the fear 
in every heart was that they would arrive at the ford 
too late to avail. Besides, there was the likelihood that 
the canes would be disposed of before the wagon had 
gone very far from Mr. Whitaker’s house. A multi- 
tude of fears possessed them, but they ran swiftly along 
the path where Will Phelps, eager and strong, was lead- 
ing the way. Not once did they stop for rest. The 
night air was chilling, and the clouds that swept across 
the face of the sky did not hide the light of the moon. 

On and on they sped, steadily maintaining the dogged 
pace which the leader was setting for them, until at last, 
well-nigh winded and thoroughly tired by their exer- 
tions, they arrived at the place where the pathway 
joined the road and they knew that Winthrop was not 
more than three-quarters of a mile away. There they 
halted, but they had not recovered from the effects of 
their long run when they perceived a farm wagon, ap- 
parently filled with bags, coming down the hill that 
was near them. 


CHAPTER XXIX 


ON THE TRAIL 


S the eager freshmen peered out at the approaching 



A wagon the suppressed excitement threatened to 
break all bounds. “ Let’s stop him and get the canes,” 
suggested Hawley in a whisper. 

“ No. What’ll be the good of that? It’ll be bet- 
ter to follow up the wagon quietly, and then if we can 
find out where they put the canes, maybe a little later 
we can get them away without the sophs knowing any- 
thing about it. Don’t you see we’ll be making it all 
the worse for them. ’ ’ 

“We don’t know that the canes are in this wagon,” 
suggested Foster. 

“ Of course we don’t, and it’s all the same whether 
we try to find out now or follow it up and find out a 
little later.” 

‘ ‘ Phelps is right about it, ’ ’ said Hawley. ‘ ‘ If the 
canes shouldn’t be found in the wagon, we would be 
making fools of ourselves if we stopped it, but if we 
let it go on and follow it up we’ll be all the better.” 

Meanwhile the wagon itself had passed the place where 
the boys were concealed, and groaning and creaking had 
begun the ascent of the opposite hill. Only the driver 
was to be seen, and his appearance and actions were un- 


276 


ON THE TRAIL 


277 


mistakable. He was a farmer and well advanced in 
years, and if he was aware of the contest that was being 
waged between the rival classes in Winthrop it was evi- 
dent that he had no share in the excitement. 

“ How’ll we do it, fellows? ” inquired Hawley anx- 
iously. “ He’ll get away before we get our eyes open, 
if we don’t look out.” 

“Let’s follow him,” said Will Phelps quickly. 
“We mustn’t go in a bunch, but string out. But we 
mustn’t be so far apart that we can’t hear if one of us 
calls or whistles.” 

“Come on, then,” said Foster. “You go ahead. 
Will, and we’ll come along. You’re a runner, and if 
the old fellow begins to start up his horses you can fol- 
low him better than any of us can. But we’ll have to 
do our best.” 

Quickly the suggestion was adopted, and Will ran 
swiftly along the road until he discovered the wagon 
not far in advance of him. It was moving at the same 
monotonous pace as when it had passed the hiding- 
place of the boys. Will Phelps, when he came within 
a hundred yards of the wagon he was following, de- 
creased his own speed and endeavored to keep close to 
the fences by the roadside, so that he would not be seen 
by the driver if he should chance to look behind him. 

They were soon within sight of Winthrop, and the 
shadowy towers of the college buildings could be dis- 
cerned in the distance. It was long past midnight, and 
the only lights that could be seen were those of the 
twinkling stars and the occasional flash of the moon- 


278 WINNING HIS 

light when the broken clouds that were moving across 
the face of the sky parted sufficiently for the face of 
the moon to be seen. 

Suddenly Will was aware that the wagon had stopped 
at a corner where a road or street that led to the lower 
part of the village joined the road that led past the col- 
lege buildings. He darted behind a huge tree that 
grew close to the roadside, and eagerly peered forth to 
discover what the next move of the farmer would be. 
He could see that some one approached the wagon, and 
after a brief delay climbed up on the seat beside the 
driver and then the team started on once more. Will 
was keenly excited by this time, and his suspicions were 
confirmed that the canes were indeed in the wagon 
before him. He was eager to follow swiftly, but he 
quickly decided that it would be wiser to wait until 
Hawley came up to the place where he himself was 
waiting and explain to him the change in the direction 
of the party they were following. 

The huge form of Hawley soon appeared, and im- 
patiently Will ran out into the road to meet him. 
“They’ve turned in here,” he said excitedly, “and 
you must stop here and tell the fello\5fs. I’ll run on 
ahead and find out where the wagon goes.” 

Quickly Will darted across the fields and soon came 
into the lower road. The wagon could be seen not far 
in advance of him, and was still moving at the slow 
pace from which it had not varied since it first had 
been seen. It was evident that the sophs were either 
indiflbrent or absolutely confident. Will could not deter- 


ON THE TRAIL 


279 


mine which. For a moment his heart misgave him. 
AVhat a plight he would be in if it should appear that 
he and his classmates had been following a purposely- 
designed trick of their rivals. The thought was by 
no means reassuring, but there was no time afforded for 
reflection, for the wagon he was following even then 
turned into a lane that led to a farmhouse and barns 
that were not far from the road. The climax had al- 
most been reached and it would be soon known what the 
issue was to be. 

Will waited now for his classmates to join him. The 
wagon could not escape, for the lane came to an abrupt 
end in the yard, and if it should turn back it could not 
pass the place where he was waiting without being seen. 

It was not long before Hawley joined him, and, as he 
approached. Will said : ‘ ‘ They’ve gone down this lane. 
Somebody was waiting here and has gone with the 
driver. There may be a good many others down there 
by the barn for all that we know. What do you think 
we’d better do ? ” 

“There’s a haystack out there by the barn,” said 
Hawley, pointing to a stack of some kind that could be 
seen in the rear of the nearest barn. “If you could 
only get behind that you could see what was going on.” 

“ I can, all right enough. But where will you fel- 
lows be ? I may need your help if I get into trouble.” 

“ I don’t know. We won’t be far away. Whistle 
if you want us and we’ll make a break for you. Don’t 
let them see you,” he added warningly, as without wait- 
ing to reply. Will started at once, running swiftly along 


280 


WINNING HIS 

the ground near the crooked rail fence that extended 
the entire distance between the main road and the farm 
buildings. 

He was convinced that he had not been seen when at 
last he gained the shelter of the haystack, and, crouch- 
ing within its shadows, he peered forth at the wagon 
and the group of four men that were standing near it. 
He was positive that one was Mott, but his greatest sur- 
prise came when he perceived a horse and sleigh in the 
barnyard which he instantly recognized as the very ones 
with which Foster and his two classmates had gone to 
Coventry Center. He reached forward and strove to 
hear what was being said, for the little group were con- 
versing eagerly but in tones so low that Will was unable 
to hear a word. He could see what was done, however, 
for after a brief delay the four men turned to the wagon, 
several sacks were lifted from their places in the load, 
and then two other sacks were taken from the wagon 
and carried by Mott and another man into the barn. 
Several minutes elapsed before Mott came forth again, 
and when he did he was alone. The sophomore stopped 
for a moment with the men, handed some money to the 
farmer, and then he and the fourth man, whom Will 
fancied he recognized as another sophomore, climbed 
into the sleigh and at once started back up the lane, 
the runners of the sleigh screeching as they passed over 
the bare places as if they were doing their utmost to 
alarm the neighborhood and to protest against what was 
being done. The farmer too, soon followed and passed 
up the lane, but his departure was of slight interest to 


ON THE TRAIL 


281 


Will, who was puzzling himself about the man who 
bad entered the barn with Mott and had failed to reap- 
pear. To Will’s mind there was but one explanation, 
and he was eager to confer with his own classmates, but 
lie dared not leave his hiding-place for fear that the 
man in the barn might come forth and depart without 
being seen. 

For a half-hour he waited but the stillness of the 
night was unbroken. He was becoming chilled and he 
dared not remain longer where he was. At last he 
decided to return to the place where he had left his own 
classmates and report to them what he had seen. 

Hastily withdrawing from his shelter he ran swiftly 
across the fields until he came to the corner, and then 
whistling softly was rejoiced when he perceived his 
friends rise from the ground in an angle of the crooked 
fence and advance to meet him. 

“Is that you. Will?” said Foster in a low voice. 
“We didn’t know what had become of you. What’s 
up ? What’s wrong ? ’ ’ 

Will hastily described what he had seen and then 
said, “ I’m dead sure, fellows, that that soph has been 
left in the barn to watch those canes. ’ ’ 

“Why didn’t you run away with the horse and 
sleigh ? ’ ’ inquired Hawley. 

“ I did think of trying it. But I made up my mind 
that even if I should succeed in doing it, it would 
give the whole thing away. They’d know that we’d 
found out where they had hidden our canes and there 
wouldn’t be much use in our trying to get them again. 


282 


WINNING HIS ^^W^’ 

Now we know where they are and the sophs don’t 
even know that we know.” 

“You mean you think they don’t know that we 
know,” suggested Foster. 

“ I know it ! ” asserted Will positively. “Now what 
shall we do ? ” 

“ Put straight back to the barn, tie up the soph and 
take the canes away with us,” said Hawley promptly. 

“I’ve thought of that,” replied Will. “But do 
you think that’s the best plan ? If we take the canes 
away we may lose them, for St. Patrick’s Day isn’t till 
day after to-morrow, you know. If this soph, I don’t 
know who he is, has been left as guard he’ll be re- 
lieved, and if they find he’s gone and the canes too, 
why it’ll be all the harder for us.” 

“ What do you suggest, Phelps ?” inquired Hawley. 

‘ ‘ How will this do ? Some one of us can creep 
back there into the barn and keep watch the same as 
the soph is doing. He can be relieved in the morning 
and then some one else can take his place. If any- 
thing happens in the barn he’ll be pretty likely to 
know it, and if anything doesn’t happen then we can 
get up a good-sized crowd and go down there to-mor- 
row night and get the canes. AYe can distribute them 
among our fellows and then the next morning every 
fellow in the class can march into chapel with his cane. ” 

“ Good ! Good ! That’s the idea ! ” said Hawley 
warmly. “ Who’ll go down to the barn and be guard 
for the night ? ’ ’ 

“ AYho’s got the most cuts to spare? ” inquired Will. 


ON THE TEAIL 


283 


“I have/* said Foster promptly. “ I have taken 
but four.’* 

‘ ‘ Then I should say you were the one to stand guard 
to-morrow,” said Will. ‘‘I’ll go to-night myself,” he 
added. “ Come down just before it’s light in the 
morning, and come to the door in the rear of the barn. 
Kap three times softly, and then if that doesn’t work, 
whistle, but not too loud.” 

There was some demurring on the part of his class- 
mates, each of whom demanded for himself the privi- 
lege of taking the first watch, but AVill insisted, and 
then somewhat reluctantly he was left to make his way 
back to the barn and all the others soon returned to 
the dormitories. 

When Will Phelps arrived at the rear door of the 
barn he discovered that it was locked on the inside and 
he was unable to gain an entrance there. He was fear- 
ful that to enter by the front door would be but to pro- 
claim his presence, but at last he perceived that there 
was an entrance by a small door that was partly open 
above the roof of the little lean-to on the side of the 
barn. Carefully he climbed up on the roof and cau- 
tiously made his way to the door. He peered within 
but it was dark and at first he was unable to discern 
anything. He waited until his eyes became somewhat 
accustomed to the dim light and then saw that there 
was a bare floor before him and that adjoining it was 
the haymow. 

With his utmost care he stepped inside, and his fears 
increased when he discovered that the loose flooring 


284 


WINNING HIS 

creaked and groaned beneath his feet. With every 
step he halted and listened intently. It seemed to the 
excited freshman that he never had heard such sounds 
as those boards emitted that night. So slowly and 
cautiously did he proceed that it seemed to him that 
hours must have elapsed before he succeeded in gaining 
the border of the low mow. Even then he halted and 
listened intently, but not a sound broke in upon the 
oppressive stillness that pervaded the barn. 

He next carefully and cautiously stepped over into 
the mow. A faint glimmer of light came from one 
corner and there he concluded the ladder must be 
which led to the floor below. If he could gain a place 
near that, he assured himself he would be able to know 
if anything occurred below, and at the same time he 
himself would be secure from observation. 

Once more he slowly and with the utmost care began 
to creep forward, and at last he stretched himself at 
full length upon the hay and peered down through the 
opening. It was too dark to permit him to see much 
and not a sound could be heard. 

Satisfied that he had been successful he resigned him- 
self to his watch. The long hours dragged on until at 
last Will found it almost impossible to keep himself 
awake. Desperately he strove to keep his eyes open, but 
his feeling of drowsiness increased until at last it over- 
powered him and the weary freshman was fast asleep. 

He was rudely awakened by sounds that came from 
the room below. He sat quickly erect, and though the 
light was clearer now he at first could not collect his 


ON THE TRAIL 


285 


thoughts sufficiently to show him where he was. Quickly 
however as the sounds from below became louder, it all 
came back to him, and he ran to the ladder and peered 
through the opening. What he saw evidently startled 
him, for instantly he threw himself upon the ladder 
and almost leaped to the floor below. 


CHAPTER XXX 


ST. patkick’s day 

T he door in the rear of the barn was open and on 
the floor before it stood Foster and Mott facing 
each other. Whether or not the sophomore who had 
been left as a guard was still in the barn Will could not 
determine, but, without waiting to find out, he almost 
leaped to the floor below, and before Mott could recovci- 
from his surprise he was helpless in the hands of his 
enemies. It was but the work of a moment securely to 
bind his hands and feet, and the leading spirit of the 
sophomore class was soon a helpless captive. 

Excited though the boys were, the entire adventure 
was completed in a very brief time, and Will and Fos- 
ter were both laughing when they gazed at their help- 
less prisoner. Even Mott smiled as he said ruefully : 

“ You’ve scored, freshmen. What are you going to 
do with me ? ” 

“Nothing,” said Will quickly. 

Mott drew down the corners of his mouth and then a 
sudden light appeared in his eyes that caused Will to 
look keenly at him for a moment. “ Come on, Forster, ” 
he said simply ; ‘ ‘ let’s put this fellow where he won’t do 
any more harm, at least until after St. Patrick’s Day.” 
“ Where’ll we put him ? ” inquired Foster. 

286 


ST. Patrick’s day 


287 


Will turned and looked about him and perceived a 
small harness room on the ground floor near him, and 
upon his suggestion the helpless sophomore was placed 
within it for safe keeping. 

“ Now then, Foster,” said Will when he had closed 
the door of the room, “ we’ve just got to find the place 
where these canes are hidden. Mott has come here to 
take the place of the guard that was here last night 
and nobody knows how long it’ll be before some one 
else comes. Come on, let’s get about it.” 

At once the two freshmen began their search. Be- 
ginning near the entrance, they examined every bin 
and peered into every possible place of concealment. 
Even in the mangers before which the horses were tied 
they peered and searched, but when they had carefully 
examined the entire floor they had not been able to 
discover the place where the coveted canes had been 
concealed. 

“What are we to do. Will? ” demanded Foster at 
last. 

“ Let’s ask Mott.” 

“ He’ll never let on.” 

“Try it, anyway.” 

The two boys returned to the harness room and Will 
at once addressed their prisoner. 

“ Mott,” he said, “ where are those canes? ” 

The sophomore laughed loudly as he replied, “You 
certainly are the two most innocent freshmen I have 
ever struck yet. Perhaps you’d like to have me help 
you carry them back to the college. ’ ’ 


288 


WINNING HIS 

“ We’ll let you go if you’ll tell us where they are.” 

“Thanks muchly,” replied Mott dryly. 

“Come on, Will,” said Foster. “We can find 
them ourselves. No use in wasting time here with this 
fellow. We’ll get them ourselves.” 

“ You’re certain they’re here? ” laughed Mott. 

Neither responded to his question, but both left the 
room and resumed their search. 

“You don’t suppose they have really got those canes 
somewhere else, do you, Foster ? They might be just 
trying to put us on the wrong track here, you know ? ’ ’ 
inquired Will. 

“It’s possible, but I don’t believe it,” said Foster 
positively. “ If that was their game Mott wouldn’t 
be here.” 

“Probably not,” assented Will. “Let’s begin 
again. We’ve no time to waste.” 

The freshmen now began to search in the loft of the 
barn. They seized the pitchforks that were in the 
mow, and, thrusting the tines into the hay, they con- 
tinued their search, working with desperate determina- 
tion and throwing the hay about them until the entire 
mow presented the appearance of having been almost 
completely overturned. 

But not a trace of the missing canes could they 
discover. At last, satisfied that their efibrts were 
vain, they ceased and for a moment stared blankly at 
each other. 

“ No use,” said Will despondently. “ They’ve made 
game of us this time, Foster, just as sure as you live.” 


ST. PATRICK'S DAY 


289 


“We won’t give up yet, Will. Of course if the 
canes are here they were not put where we’d be likely to 

stumble over them. W e’ ve j ust got to think it out ’ ’ 

Foster stopped abruptly as a voice was heard calling 
up from below. ‘ ‘ I must bid you an affectionate and 
tearful farewell, freshmen. Keep on with your good 
work and remember that perseverance conquers every- 
thing. Even the best of friends must part ” 

Foster and Will waited to hear no more, but both 
plunged down the ladder, but when they had gained 
the floor below it was to behold Mott speeding up the 
lane as if he was ‘ sprinting ’ for life itself. For a mo- 
ment the surprise and consternation of the two fresh- 
men were so complete that both were speechless. 

“Why didn’t you take after him. Will?” said Fos- 
ter, who was the first to break in upon the awkward 
silence. ‘ ‘ What are you standing here for ? ” 

“No use, Foster,” replied Will, shaking his head. 
“ He’s got too good a start. “ I don’t see how he ever 
got loose.” 

“Well, he is loose and that’s all there is about it. 
What’ll we do next ? ” 

“ Find those canes. They’re here, I know they are.” 
“Just tell me where they are, will you ? ” 

“They won’t come to us, that’s certain ! We’ve 
got to look them up. And if we don’t find them pretty 
soon too if’ll be the worse for us.” 

Will turned as he spoke and once more opened 
the lid of a piano box that was standing on the floor 
near them. The box apparently was filled with oats 


290 


WINNING HIS ^^W” 

and they had inspected it before, but as it had not 
presented any appearance of containing the object of 
their search they had passed it by and gone on to the 
loft above. 

This time, however, Will thrust his arm deep down 
into the oats and in a moment he almost shouted, 
“ Here’s something, Foster ! Help me clear away 
these oats. There’s something down in there ! ” 

Foster seized the scoop that was near the improvised 
oat bin and with feverish haste threw the oats up on 
one side and then said exultantly, “ Here’s something ! 
Here they are ! ” . 

Leaning over the box, he drew forth a bundle of 
canes carefully tied together and partly hidden from 
sight beneath the oats. 

“Are they all there? ” demanded Will in a hoarse 
whisper. He hastily inspected the bundle and then 
exclaimed, “ Here’s only a part of them, Foster ! ” 

“Where some are it’s likely there are more,” and 
Will at once resumed his search. His efforts were 
speedily rewarded by the discovery of another bundle 
similar to the one that had already been found, and, 
dropping his scoop, he hastily began to count the canes. 

“ Here they are ! ” he exclaimed joyfully. “Every 
last one of them is here ! ’ ’ 

“ Then the sophs must have been to both places 
where we had them.” 

“Yes, but it’s all the better for us. We’ll now 
be ” 

Foster stopped abruptly as the farmer that owned the 




“ ‘ Good morning,’ said Will cheerfully. 
‘ We’re here after these canes.’ ” 

Page 291. 


ST. Patrick’s day 291 

buildiDgs appeared in the doorway and for a moment 
stared blankly at them. 

‘‘Good morning,” said Will cheerfully. “We’re 
here after these canes. ’ " 

“ So I see,” replied the farmer. “ The freshmans 
didn’t find ye out, then? ” 

“It’s all right,” responded Will glibly. “How 
much are we to pay you? ” 

“They paid me last night. I guess ’twas ’beout 
right. I don’t want nothin’ more.” 

“We’ve tumbled your hay over more than we 
thought,” said Will, as he thrust a bill into the man’s 
hand. 

“I don’t know ’beout it,” drawled the farmer, never- 
theless thrusting the money into his pocket. “ Putty 
good pay, but I don’t know but I might’s well take it.” 

“Of course you’re to take it ! ” said Will eagerly. 
“ All we ask of you now is not to tell anybody — any- 
body,” he added with special emphasis, “that we’ve 
taken the canes away. Don’t tell any one of it or the 
whole game will be spoiled.” 

“I’ll be as mum as a hitchin’ post.” 

Without waiting for any further words the two boys 
seized the bundles and at once departed from the barn. 
When they came out into the lane they looked carefully 
about them in every direction, but no one could be seen 
and they soon came out into the open road. 

“What are we going to do with them now?” in- 
quired Foster, as they halted for a moment. 

“We can’t take them back to our rooms,” said Will. 


292 


WINNING HIS ^^W 


V 

‘‘ No ! No ! That would never do.” 

“ITl tell you,” said Will quickly. ‘‘Let’s take 
them down to that old bridge yonder,” pointing as he 
spoke toward a rude bridge that spanned the stream not 
far away. 

“ All right. Come along, then,” responded Foster. 

Instantly the two boys began to run and in a brief 
time arrived at the rude structure, and after a hasty 
inspection they placed the two bundles on the piers be- 
neath the bridge and then covered them with the drift- 
wood that had been cast up on the bank by the stream 
when its waters had been swelled by the passing storms. 

When their work was at last completed they departed 
for Winthrop and arrived just as the final strokes of the 
bell were given that assembled the students in the chapel. 
They hastily passed in with the throng of students and 
were in their seats in time to receive credit for attendance. 

As they passed out from the chapel when the service 
was ended they came face to face with Mott and a group 
of sophomores, who evidently w^ere waiting for their 
appearance ; but as neither Foster nor Will betrayed 
any emotion by the expression upon their faces it was 
impossible for the sophomores to perceive whether or 
not the canes had been discovered. 

There was no question about their opinions, however, 
when later in the day it was apparent that the sopho- 
more class was possessed of a feeling of intense excite- 
ment. Parties were sent forth in various directions, 
and there was the keenest interest manifest in the entire 
college. Will and Foster, however, were too wise to 


ST. Patrick’s day 


293 


relate their experiences to any except to the three or 
four leaders of their class ; and when night fell, by a 
circuitous route, and then only after a half-dozen par- 
ties had been sent out in other directions to mislead any 
of their rivals who might be watching their movements, 
they proceeded to the bridge, secured the canes, and 
bringing them safely back to the college under the pro- 
tecting shelter of the darkness, distributed them among 
the members of the class. 

Great was the elation of the freshmen when on the 
following morning they formed in a body near the gym- 
nasium j ust before the hour of morning prayers in the 
chapel and then marched to the service every one carry- 
ing in his hands one of the coveted sticks. 

The discomfited sophomores endured in silence the 
gibes of the students, and the exultant freshmen re- 
ceived the applause that greeted their success with an 
air that it is to be feared only served to increase the 
chagrin of their rivals. And Will Phelps and Foster 
were at once, and by a common though unspoken assent, 
awarded a place among the leaders of their class for 
their success. 

Of the parade that took place late that day Will 
Phelps did not tire of talking for many a week. The 
assembled crowd of students, townspeople, and visitors, 
the long line of freshmen in the parade and their gro- 
tesque appearance, the stirring music of the brass band 
at the head of the line, the march to the lower campus 
where the huge bonfire was kindled, the weird songs 
and dancing as in dual lines the two lower classes with 


294 


WINNING HIS ^^W’^ 

joined hands leaped and danced about the blazing fire, 
and then the final consignment to the flames of the 
huge wooden hatchet that had been carried in the 
parade, were all incidents that duly impressed him. 
And when at last the fires burned low and the final 
song was sung, and it was declared that the hatchet was 
buried forever and all feelings of animosity between 
the lower classmen were at an end, the boys returned 
to their rooms feeling that a well-earned victory had 
been won. 

The escapades were doubtless silly, and in after years 
brought a smile to the faces of the participants when 
they were then recalled, but nevertheless they had 
formed a part of the experiences of college life and 
had brought with them the development of certain qual- 
ities of leadership which in other ways and in later days 
were to play no small part in the lives of Will Phelps 
and his roommate. 

The coming of springtime in Winthrop was always 
an occasion of general rejoicing. The hills were once 
more covered with their garments of green and the val- 
leys were beautiful in their verdure. Among the stu- 
dents at Winthrop there was usually a relaxing of effort 
then, but Will Phelps, though the effort cost him much, 
still held himself resolutely to his tasks. He had been 
learning not merely what to study but also how to study, 
and in his spring vacation his father had explained to 
him that this was his supreme purpose and desire. If 
a man did not learn how to work while he was a student 
in college it was seldom the case that he learned it after- 


ST. Patrick’s day 


295 


ward. And Will had responded. His Greek was still 
distasteful to him, but he was doing somewhat better 
and was more content. 

The crowning ambition in Will’s heart as we know 
was to secure a place on the college track team. And 
he had been working quietly yet persistently under the 
guidance of Wagner for the desired end. At last, early 
in May, came the trial meets of the college when the 
selections for the team were to be made, and when Will 
donned his running suit and went down to the track to 
all appearances he was calmer than his room-mate. 
But in his heart there was a feeling such as he had 
never known before. 


CHAPTER XXXI 


CONCLUSION 

I T was a noisy crowd of students that assembled at 
the Winthrop athletic field on that day early in 
May when the trials for the track team were to be held. 
Keen as was the interest in baseball the interest in the 
track team was even keener, for hope was high among 
the students that a championship team would be turned 
out and the competition among the eight colleges that 
composed the league was at fever heat. The most for- 
midable rival of Winthrop was Alden, and, as within 
the past four years each of the two colleges had won 
the championship twice, the coming contest would de- 
cide the possession of the cup which the association had 
voted should be held in the permanent possession of the 
college which had won most of the meets within the 
limits of the five years. 

Will Phelps was keenly excited although his move- 
ments were very deliberate as he walked about the field 
clad in his running suit, over which he was wearing his 
bath robe. His desire to secure a place on the team 
was so strong that he hardly dared to face the possi- 
bility of a failure. The disappointments of the year 
would in a measure be atoned for if only he might win 
the coveted honor. He had carefully followed the in- 
296 


CONCLUSION 


297 


structions of Wagner, the captain of the team, who 
though, by his physician’s orders was not to compete, 
was nevertheless deeply interested and for some reason 
had taken an especially strong liking to Will Phelps. 
Upon his advice Will had retired early the preceding 
night and had secured .a rest that made him now feel 
that if ever he was to win, the present opportunity was 
the supreme one. 

‘‘Don’t do your best in the heats, unless you have 
to,” said Wagner as he approached Will on the field 
and stopped for a moment to chat with him. “ Save 
your strength for the finals.” 

Will smiled but did not reply. In his present state 
of mind he was wondering if he could run at any pace 
that was not his best. The events were being run off 
now and he was striving to become interested in them. 
Anything that would call his thoughts away from him- 
self and his own contest was to be desired, he thought. 
Foster had tried and failed to win a place and Peter 
John Schenck too had not been successful. Was his 
own chance better than theirs ? He could hardly be- 
lieve that it was, and yet if determination could aid he 
knew that his lack, if he should be found wanting, 
would not be due to that cause. 

At last the supreme moment arrived and the call for 
the first heat in the hundred yards dash was heard. 
Will’s heart was beating furiously when he cast aside 
his bath robe and tossed it to Foster who was waiting 
to receive it. His room-mate smiled encouragingly but 
was too wise to speak and Will advanced to the line. 


298 


WINNING HIS ‘^W^^ 

He perceived that three others were with him in the 
heat, but Mott, whom he most feared, was not among 
the number. That was a source of some consolation, 
and his hope increased that he might at least win a 
place in the finals. 

As the pistol was fired, Will darted forward from the 
line, but in a moment the runners were recalled and 
AVill was penalized a yard for his undue eagerness. 
Grimly he took his place this time a yard behind the 
line and when the start was again made he sped down 
the track as if he was possessed of the speed of the 
wind. Easily he was the first to touch the tape, but 
when unmindful of the cheers of his classmates he 
turned aside to don once more his bath robe, Wagner 
approached and shaking his head, laughed as he said. 

You forgot what I told you, freshman.” 

“ What was that ? ” 

Not to run your best in the heat. You want some- 
thing left for the finals. ’ ’ 

couldn’t help it,” said Will grimly. *‘What 
was the time ? ’ ’ 

“ Ten, two.” 

Nothing more was said as they all turned to watch 
the runners in the other heats. Mott with apparent 
ease won his, and Ogden won the third. The final 
was to be run off between the three winners and Will 
stretched himself upon the grass to gain such rest as he 
could obtain before the supreme test arrived. 

Other events were now run off and a half-hour 
elapsed before the final heat was called. “You’ll get 


CONCLUSION 


299 


your place on the team anyway, Will,’’ said Foster 
encouragingly. 

“I’m not so sure of that.” 

“I am. I heard Wagner say that three would be 
taken on the team for the sprints, and even if you come 
in last you’ll be sure of a place.” 

“ I don’t know. I don’t want to come in last.” 

“Don’t, then,” laughed Foster as he reached forth 
his hand for his room-mate’s bath robe. Once more 
Will stood on the line and this time there would be no 
“sneaking,” he assured himself. Somehow the keen- 
ness of his previous excitement was gone now and he 
was almost as calm as if he had been a spectator and 
not a participant in the contest. He was none the less 
resolved to do his utmost and when the pistol at last 
was fired he leaped from the mark with every nerve 
and muscle tense. A silence rested over all as the three 
runners came swiftly up the track. Will could feel 
rather than see that he was ahead of Ogden, but Mott 
was still in advance of him, and do what he might 
he did not seem to be able to cut down that yard by 
which Mott was leading. Swiftly the racers sped on 
and soon Will could see that the end of the course had 
almost been gained. Only fifteen yards remained to 
be covered, and then by one supreme effort Will called 
upon all his reserve powers and with what the college 
paper afterward described as a “magnificent burst of 
speed,” he cut down Mott’s lead and a moment later 
the two runners struck the tape exactly together. 

A mighty shout arose from the assembled students 


300 


WINNING HIS W 


and Foster and Hawley both of whom were usually so 
self-contained ran out and threw their arms about the 
neck of their classmate. The enthusiasm increased 
when the time was announced as “ten, one,” and 
Wagner came forward his face beaming and his hand 
outstretched as he said : “You did it, freshman ! I 
knew you could, and I knew you would.” 

Words of praise had never sounded sweeter in Will’s 
ears. He had won a place on the team and that cov- 
eted honor at least was his. 

His interest in the trials was mostly ended now and he 
returned to the dressing rooms, where he donned his ordi- 
nary garb and then rejoined his fellows. Their congratu- 
lations were sweet in his ears and the very appearance of 
the beautiful valley to him seemed to have changed. He 
had won and the stimulus of success was his. 

In the month that followed Will found himself exces- 
sively busy. He took his meals now with the team at the 
training table and every day there was work to be done 
on the track. And it was hard work too. But the de- 
mands were almost forgotten in the elation which filled 
the heart of the young student. His father’s warm words 
of congratulation were prized most of all, but Will felt 
that he did not require the caution which his father gave 
him not to permit his success in athletics to interfere with 
his work for the classroom. Even “ Splinter’s ’ ’ demands 
had lost a part of their unreasonableness, or so it seemed 
to Will, and even the detested Greek could be mastered 
under the glow of success that was his. 


CONCLUSION 


301 


At last the eventful day arrived when the meet be- 
tween the colleges was to be held. Will had worked so 
hard and so faithfully that he was not without hopes of 
winning some points for his college and he was aware 
how much they were needed and how eager all the stu- 
dent body was that the cup might come to Winthrop. 
Mott was the only one who had appeared to be at all 
envious of him, but as Will had heard that the soph- 
omore had been careless in his training and there had 
been reports that Mott and Peter John had been drink- 
ing heavily again, he felt that he could well afford to 
ignore the slights. And in his heart he knew that he 
was sincere when he declared to himself that if he could 
not win he heartily wished that Mott might, for Win- 
throp would be the gainer in either event. 

The team had been taken to the city where the meet 
was to be held, on the day preceding the contest, and 
that night at the hotel Will endeavored again to follow 
the advice of Wagner and secure a good sleep. But 
his excitement and the novelty of his surroundings and 
thoughts of the impending meet were too keen to be 
entirely overcome by the young freshman, and on the 
following morning his heart was somewhat heavy and 
his fears increased. 

When at last the hour arrived when the team, in a 
huge coach, was taken to the field, a measure of calm 
had returned to him and as he looked out over the 
great assembly his interest became intense. Students 
from the various colleges had been assigned sections in 
the bleachers and streamers and banners with the huge 


302 


WINNING HIS 

initial letter of the college emblazoned upon them were 
much in evidence. The colors of the competing colleges 
were also to be seen among the spectators and with 
shouts and cheers and songs to be heard on every side 
Will felt that this was the supreme moment of his 
life. He stood gazing at the inspiring sight until he 
felt a touch on his shoulder that caused him quickly 
to turn about. 

“Why, pop ! ” he exclaimed delightedly as he per- 
ceived who it was that had touched him. “I didn’t 
have the remotest idea that you were here.” 

“ I had to come to see what my boy would do,” re- 
plied Mr. Phelps quietly. 

“I’m afraid you won’t see much.” 

“I shall see him do his best, and that’s worth the 
trip.” 

“Come on, freshman ! ” interrupted Mott approach- 
ing. “It’s time to dress.” 

Will grasped his father’s hand for a moment and 
then hastened to follow the other members of the 
Winthrop team who were making their way to their 
quarters. 

“ Alden is going to win all the sprints,” said Mott 
glumly while they were dressing. 

“If they’re the best runners they will,” assented 
Will who despite his eagerness was now in good spirits. 

“ Wagner has figured it out and says if they do win 
the sprints they’ll take the cup.” 

Will made no response though he knew that if 
Wagner had indeed said that, then the college would 


CONCLUSION 


303 


look to Mott and to himself to do their best. No 
praise would be too high if they should succeed, and no 
blame too severe if they should fail. And his own de- 
termination and desire to win for a moment faltered. 
What could he in his first great contest hope to do ? 

The appearance of the team on the field was greeted 
by a wild shout from the Winthrop contingent. The 
team was cheered and every member of it also was 
cheered by name. The entire scene was certainly in- 
spiring and Will’s determination returned more strongly 
than before. The first event was the four hundred and 
forty yard dash in which Alden received first and Win- 
throp second. In the one hundred and twenty yard 
hurdles the order was reversed, and so the record con- 
tinued through the two-twenty, the two-twenty hurdles, 
the eight hundred and eighty yards run. The field 
events were also being carried out at the same time and 
with very similar results. Alden was second in the 
shot put and Winthrop second in the running high 
jump while neither scored in throwing the hammer nor 
in the running broad jump. But again Winthrop was 
first in throwing the discus, but Alden was first in the 
pole vault ; and so the points scored by each of the two 
rivals remained the same when at last came the trials 
in the hundred yards dash, which as we know was the 
event in which Will Phelps and Mott were entered 
The color had fled from Will’s face and he was hardly 
conscious of the shouts or presence of the great assembly 
when he advanced to the line, for he was to run in the 
first heat. Thirty-two men were entered for the race 


304 


WINNING HIS ^‘W 


yy 

and there were to be six heats, only the winners in each 
to qualify for the finals. 

“You’ve nobody to fear here,” whispered Wagner 
encouragingly. “ Take it easy.” 

“I’ll have to come in first if I get in the finals.” 

“Yes, but you can do it all right.” 

Wagner slipped back and the seven young men took 
their places on the line. When the pistol was fired 
Will darted forward and held the lead all the way, 
touching the tape first of all. 

Wagner again was there to receive him and as Will 
fell into his arms he turned quickly and said, “What 
was the time ? ’ ’ 

“ They’ll announce it in a minute,” replied Wagner 
compelling his friend to don his robe. When the time 
was announced as “ ten three,” Will’s heart sank, but 
Wagner laughed gleefully as he said, “ Good ! That’s 
the way to do it. You’ve got some reserve left.” 

Will Phelps was not so confident, but he turned 
eagerly to watch the other contestants. Mott won his 
heat in ten two, each of two heats was won by an Alden 
man in the same time, and the fifth heat was won by a 
man from a smaller college of whom no one expected 
much and who was but slightly feared. 

The mile run, the two mile run, and the half-mile 
Were run off while the sprinters were waiting for their 
finals and the excitement became intense when it was 
known that the score of Winthrop and Alden was ex- 
actly the same. Everything now depended upon the 
result of the finals in the hundred yards dash. 



“ Will darted forward . . . 
touching the tape first of all.” 

Page 304. 










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CONCLUSION 


305 


“Phelps, you must get it!” whispered Wagner 
whose face was as pale as that of the freshman. Will 
did not reply and at once took his place beside his four 
competitors. 

“ On your marks 1 ” called the starter, and the silence 
that rested over the field became intense. 

“ Get set 1 ” A sigh seemed to rise from the assem- 
bly and all were standing. 

“ Go 1 ” The crack of the pistol was heard and in- 
stantly the runners were speeding down the track. 

The day was warm and Will Phelps could feel that 
his face was as wet as if he had plunged in the river. 
Never in all his young life had he exerted himself as 
then. The tread of the running feet on the track 
seemed almost like that of one man. On and on they 
sped, no one looking to the right or left. AVhether he 
was winning or not. Will was unable to determine. He 
knew that all five were “bunched,” for he could feel 
and hear the others near him. The deafening shouts 
and the shrill calls and cries sounded faint and dim in 
his ears. He could see the officials standing near the 
end of the course — an end that seemed far away for all 
that the runners were so swiftly approaching. 

Nearer and nearer the runners drew and the shouts 
increased in violence. Every one in the assembly was 
standing erect and leaning forward, breathless with in- 
terest. Fifteen, ten, then only five yards remained. 
With one supreme effort Will darted ahead. He felt 
the tape, and not knowing whether he had won or not 
he plunged into the outstretched arms of Wagner, 
u 


306 


WINNING HIS 

For a moment everything was dim about him and 
there was a sound as of a roaring in his ears. Then 
above the din he heard the wild shout of the Winthrop 
boys and he heard Wagner say, “The cup’s ours, 
Phelps ! We’ve got it ! We’ve won it ! ” 

“Was I first? ” inquired Will simply. 

“No, second.” 

“ I don’t see then. Who did win ? ” 

“Crafts from Tech was first and you were second 
and the Alden man third,” said Wagner hilariously. 
“You put us two points ahead of Alden ! You’ve won 
your ‘ W ’ and we’ve got the cup ! ” 

Before Will could respond a body of the Winthrop 
boys made a rush upon him and lifting him upon their 
shoulders advanced to the middle of the field followed 
by the entire body of their fellow-students. Then in 
fantastic steps and winding column they marched about 
the field, singing their college songs and uniting in 
their college yell for the team and for Phelps again 
and again. The interested spectators stopped and 
watched the proceedings until at last the team returned 
to their dressing rooms and the day was done. 

On the return to Winthrop Will was seated beside 
his father, and as they drew near the college town 
Mr. Phelps, who was not to stop, but was at once 
going home, said; “Well, Will, what of the year? 
It’s done now.” 

“Yes,” responded Will simply. “ It’s not been so 
bad.” 

“ What about the Greek ? ’ ’ 


CONCLUSION 


307 


“Oh, Splinter’s not half-bad either,” laughed Will. 
“ I think I’ll go down and see him before I come home. ’ ’ 
“ I should. And you’re not sorry that you didn’t 
give up to Greek ? ’ ’ 

“ Not a bit.” 

“And you think winning the ‘hundred’ to-day is 
worth it all ? ” 

“ It isn’t that. It’s the feeling that I haven’t given 
up. Of course' I’m glad to get my ‘W’ and I was 
mighty sorry not to get my numerals. But this makes 
up for it. I’m glad I won out for myself and more for 
the college. I tell you, pop, Winthrop is the best col- 
lege in the world ! ” 

“ And you wouldn’t like to leave now ? ” 

‘ ‘ Leave ? Well, I guess not ! ’ ’ 

“ I hear that Peter John is not to come back,” said 
Mr. Phelps soberly. 

“Why not?” 

“ I can’t say. I don’t even know that he is not to 
return. I have heard it, that’s all ; but I fancy you 
know more about it than I. ’ ’ 

Will was silent till the train was near Winthrop. 
“Well, Will,” said his father, breaking in, “I’m to 
leave you here. Do you want to know what I value 
most in your year’s work ? ’ ’ 

“What is it?” 

“ That you’ve learned how to work. When a man 
learns that, much of the problem of his life is solved. 
Some men run from hardness, some endure it, and some 
overcome it.” 


308 


WINNING HIS 

“ It hasu’t been so hard.” 

Mr. Phelps smiled but all he said was, “ Good-bye, 
Will, we’ll look for you soon at home. I think you’ve 
made a good investment this year.” 

“ In what? ” inquired Will in surprise. 

But his father only smiled and grasped his son’s 
hand for a moment and soon the train pulled out from 
the little station ; but as long as the crowd of students, 
noisy, boisterous, happy, could be seen as they moved 
up the street he watched them with shining eyes. Then 
as he resumed his seat he thoughtfully said to himself, 
“ Yes, Will has learned it. I did not know for a time 
whether he would or not. But he has and I don’t 
think Splinter, or Mott, or Peter John, or anything, or 
any one can take it away from him now.” 

And he resumed the reading of his evening paper, 
while the noisy train sped on bearing him farther and 
farther from Winthrop, but the Winthrop college boy 
was nearer to him all the time. 


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